Alumnus of the Year 2014: Jan and Maria Berglin
The 2014 Alumnus of the Year award has been awarded to cartoonists Jan and Maria Berglin. They have been chosen for the award for their important input to public debate in Sweden. As continuously current portrayers of society they are good role models for today’s and tomorrow’s students.
The 2014 Alumnus of the Year award was presented this evening at an event in the University Main Building. Jan Berglin was there to receive the couple’s award.
Jan Berglin has a teaching degree from Uppsala University and Maria Berglin has a degree in cultural studies. Ever since their studies they have had strong connections to Uppsala. Jan started out drawing comics for the student newspaper Ergo in 1985, and since then his comics have been an important and much appreciated part of the paper.
The award committee’s citation:
‘The comic artists Jan and Maria Berglin provide important input to Swedish public debate. As continuously current portrayers of society they are good role models for today’s and tomorrow’s students. The Berglins raise and put the spotlight on truths, contradictions and shortcomings in everyday life and society. The
messages conveyedare insightful,humorous,satirical,and charitable.The comics reachawidereadership.’Anyone with a connection to Uppsala University can nominate for the Alumnus of the Year award. Nominations are considered by a committee consisting of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, the Director of Communication, the Alumni Coordinator, a representative for Uppsala University’s network of alumni associations, a representative of the student unions and a representative from Kuratorskonventet. The final decision is made by the Vice-Chancellor upon suggestion from the committee.
David Naylor