Deans’ List for Social Impact Recognition for 25 Students

This academic recognition aims to shine a light on students who have been commited to carrying out activities with a high social impact, a testament to the Bocconi community’s integral values. The 2023-2024 Deans’ List for Social Impact Recognition was awarded to 25 students during a ceremony held on Tuesday 24 September in the Campus Life area.

"With the Deans’ List,” says Carlo Salvato, Dean of the Graduate School, “the Bocconi University Schools wish to recognize the extraordinary commitment of so many students who are dedicated to social impact activities on a daily basis, creating value and enriching their personal and professional profiles."

"I volunteered at two different places," says Mattia Maria Vincenzo Forzo. Originally from Piacenza, he recently finished his Bachelor of Science in Mathematical and Computing Sciences for Artificial Intelligence. "But both were in the area of education. The first was at a school, and the second was at university. The Tutoring Online Program was established after Covid with the aim of helping middle school students with difficulties in some subjects who couldn’t get help privately due to financial reasons. In particular, I helped out a 12-year-old girl, through online-only meetings, to review some subjects." Mattia's choice is motivated by his memories: "Since I was always a good student, I’ve always helped my classmates who were struggling. It's gratifying, you give something and you receive a lot in return." The second initiative Mattia participated in, the Learning Needs Help Desk, was very different, however. "It is an internal program at Bocconi that aims to provide support to anyone who, for various and often serious reasons, has fallen behind with their studies. In my case I helped a first-year student especially in mathematics." Again, his main motivation was his own personal history: "When I first started at Bocconi I struggled a lot in mathematics, I hadn’t taken many classes before I got here. If it hadn't been for the support I received from Professor Fabio Maccheroni, I don't know if I would have made it. I wanted to give back what I received." 

Helping young people with their classwork was also Maria Vittoria Nigro’s choice. The Ravenna native is in her first year of the program in International Economics and Management. "I was surprised by the great social disparities that exist today," she explains, "that also have repercussions on education. So I decided to support middle school students with learning problems in various subjects as part of the Angela Giorgetti Volunteer Association." As almost always happens, it was not a one-way relationship: "A great sense of community was created with the children and their families, which actually helped me solve several practical problems when moving to the big city. But that's not all. I have always thought that anyone who did poorly at school did so because they did not work hard. This volunteer opportunity helped me realize that the reality is much more complex." 

The path taken by Giorgia De Gaetano, however, was very different. From the town of Cornaredo, near Milan, she is also a student in the International Economics and Management program and has been a volunteer at the Voluntary Association Croce Verde Nord Ovest for two years. "Why did I volunteer there? A few years ago I witnessed a bad car accident and I decided that in the future I would like to be able to help in situations like that." Giorgia and her fellow volunteers are called upon to provide assistance in various situations. They are often the first interface with those who have had a problem and their families. "It involves mostly mediation and building relationships. We have to reassure their relatives, give them initial explanations about what happened. And it's nice when they then thank you and tell you what you did was important." What would she say to her peers to encourage them to volunteer? "That helping others really means being an active part of society. And that you learn a lot and especially challenge yourself."

The 2024-2025 edition of the Deans’ List for Social Impact Recognition will officially kick off on 8 October during the Volunteer Fair.