04/09/2025

IMPA Tech students receive CAPES University Talent Award

IMPA Tech students Marcella Decembrino and Mateus Mundstock were awarded the CAPES University Talent Award 2025. The initiative recognizes one thousand undergraduates from all over the country who stand out in general knowledge with a prize of R$ 5 thousand. In addition to the scholarship, the award encourages dedication to studies and higher education.

For Marcella, the result was a surprise, as more than 5 thousand students participated in the evaluation. “I was very excited and thrilled with this achievement, since it is an honor to be among the highest scores in the country,” she said. Born in Rio de Janeiro (RJ), the student is a medalist in the ONC (National Science Olympiad) and the Kangaroo Mathematics test. In 2024, he achieved the maximum score in Mathematics in ENEM, which made it possible to enter IMPA Tech.

Held annually, the CAPES Award is aimed at undergraduate students enrolled in public, private or military higher education institutions. To participate, it is necessary to have taken the National High School Exam (ENEM) in the year prior to entering university. The test evaluates the student’s general knowledge with 80 multiple-choice questions, lasting four hours.

“The process was very smooth. The test is in the style of ENEM, but carried out on the computer. The issues were a bit complicated, but I’m very happy to receive the award now,” said Mundstock. Born in Viçosa (MG), the student is a multi-medalist in the OBMEP (Brazilian Public School Mathematics Olympiad) and has accumulated 8 medals in the competition: 7 gold and 1 silver.

In all, a thousand individual awards of R$ 5 thousand were awarded, 950 of which for the participants who obtain the highest scores in the wide competition and 50 reserved for people with disabilities.

The CAPES University Talent Award is carried out by the Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES), an agency linked to the Ministry of Education (MEC). Check out the Full list of winners, who must receive the prize money by January 30, 2026.