The young researcher Estrella María Montes Muñoz, a Law graduate from the University of Cordoba, has been recognized with the Manuel Olivencia Award for University Excellence 2026. This award, considered one of the most important for young jurists in Spain, is promoted by the Cuatrecasas Foundation.
This recognition adds to Montes Muñoz's recent achievements, including receiving the XIX Andalusian Research Award on European Integration just a few months ago. That award, promoted by the Regional Government of Andalusia and convened by the University of Granada, acknowledged her work on European construction.
The Manuel Olivencia Award, aimed at final-year and postgraduate Law students, seeks to foster specialized training and legal and business research. The jury recognized Montes Muñoz's academic excellence, her research vocation, and the strength of her doctoral project, also highlighting her multidisciplinary profile and international projection.
“"I accept this award with sincere gratitude and with full awareness of the responsibility that comes with bearing the name of Professor Manuel Olivencia."
Montes Muñoz expressed her gratitude and emphasized that the legacy of jurist Manuel Olivencia represents intellectual rigor, a vocation for service, and openness to the world, pledging to keep that heritage alive in her future research.
This year's edition saw high participation. The jury also granted an honorable mention to David Rodríguez Alcaraz, a student from Esade. The president of the Cuatrecasas Foundation, Emilio Cuatrecasas, and the Minister of Research and Universities of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Núria Montserrat, highlighted the quality of the submissions and the commitment to young talent.
