Católica was present at the 28th Annual PALCUS (Portuguese American Leadership Council of the United States) Leadership Awards Gala, held this past Saturday, October 17, at Coliseu Micaelense in Ponta Delgada. Bringing together around 240 attendees, the event marked a historic milestone: celebrating the organization's 35th anniversary and the very first time its annual gala and premier fundraising initiative took place outside the United States.
Representing Católica was Inês Romba, Director of Global Development, at an event dedicated to honoring civic leadership, community service, and ties with the Portuguese-American diaspora.
During the event, Católica reaffirmed its commitment to internationalization and support for Portuguese-descendant students with the formal announcement of the Católica Fellowships for Portuguese American Students. This scholarship program aims to bring the new generation of Portuguese Americans closer to higher education excellence in Portugal, fostering academic mobility and strengthening connections to their ancestral roots.
The initiative was part of an extensive program of activities on the island of São Miguel, including the Lusitano Forum at the Azorean Emigration Museum and a reception at Palácio da Conceição, underscoring the vital role of education and philanthropy as drivers of progress for the Portuguese community abroad.
(From left to right) Católica's Director of Global Development with Caroline, representing the new generation of Portuguese Americans, at the PALCUS 2026 Gala in Ponta Delgada last weekend (October 17); Inês Romba, Católica's Director of Global Development, at the PALCUS 2026 Gala in Ponta Delgada, where the Católica Fellowships for Portuguese American Students were announced and the 35th anniversary of this organization uniting the Portuguese community across the US was celebrated.
