Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, August 18, 2026.— The discipline, talent, and determination of the students at the Universidad Panamericana Aguascalientes campus were recognized during the 2026 State Youth Award ceremony, where they stood out for their projects, track records, and achievements in various fields.
Recognizing the work of promising young people
At an event hosted by the Aguascalientes State Government, the ceremony brought together more than 400 young people and recognized various expressions of youthful talent in academic, international, athletic, and social fields.
Among the award recipients were students from the Aguascalientes campus of theUniversidad Panamericana , who demonstrated the talent and education that characterize their university community.
Talent that shines on the international stage
Among the ceremony's highest honors is the Collective Giant Award, presented to law students who are members of the team competing in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition.
This recognition comes after the team won first place nationally in the Mexican edition of this competition, one of the leading international competitions in the field of public international law.
The Jessup consists of a simulation of a fictitious legal dispute between states before the International Court of Justice, which presents a significant academic challenge for students and an opportunity to test their knowledge, argumentation skills, and teamwork abilities.
For Valeria Flores Romo, a member of the team, receiving this recognition meant feeling the support of Aguascalientes for young people who are working to excel on national and international stages. “Feeling that my efforts were recognized back home, in Aguascalientes—the place where I grew up—was one of the most beautiful things this experience has given me,” she shares.
The student emphasized that the group award reflects one of the team’s key strengths: collaborative work. Trust, friendship, and the complementary strengths of its members have been fundamental to achieving their goals.
UP Alumni Receives Recognition for International Innovation
The Panamericana community's talent was also represented by alumnus Miguel Ángel Arellano, a mechatronics engineer specializing in software project development and quality, who received the Gigante Award for International Merit for his Astruck project.
With four years of experience, this startup combines technology and engineering to develop solutions that have both environmental and business impacts.
“We’re a startup with various projects right now; we started out as a 3D printing business using recycled PET bottles, and today we also develop software solutions for small businesses,” he notes.
Through various projects and research initiatives, he had the opportunity to represent Mexico at conferences held in Dubai, Russia, and the United States—experiences that earned him international recognition and paved the way for him to be acknowledged by the Senate of the Republic.
“The truth is, it was a very long journey—I mean, everyone’s journey is different. It took me four years to win the award, and that means a lot to me,” he said.
Sports as a Reflection of Discipline and Perseverance
The community at the Aguascalientes campus of the National Institute of Technology ( Universidad Panamericana ) also made its mark in the world of sports, thanks to Ángel Yael Yépez Meza, a student in the Artificial Intelligence Engineering program, who was awarded the 2026 Municipal Award for Sporting Merit in the Open category (ages 21–39) for triathlon.
The Municipal Award for Sporting Achievement recognizes young people and local athletes for their accomplishments and contributions in athletic competitions, particularly for representing the municipality of Aguascalientes.
With a seven-year career, Ángel Yael has an outstanding track record as a medalist at the CONADE National Olympics and a champion at the CONADEIP Games. In addition, he is currently a member of the national team and has had outstanding performances in continental-level competitions.
For the student, this recognition serves as motivation to continue growing in the sport and to help triathlon gain an increasingly stronger presence in Aguascalientes.
“It brings me great joy to see our sport gaining recognition at the national level, as it means we’re becoming a national powerhouse in this sport. Receiving this award makes me feel like I’m part of this growth and that I can inspire more people to take up this sport that I hold so dear,” he says.
Empowering young people to transform their communities
The accolades earned by students and alumni of the University of the Pacific ( Universidad Panamericana ) reflect the diversity of talents within its community: young people who excel in academic, legal, international, and athletic fields, and who bring their education and skills to high-level settings.
In this regard, recognizing young talent means shining a spotlight on those who are already bringing about change in their respective fields and, at the same time, inspiring more young people to turn their ideas, passions, and efforts into projects that make a difference
