Press Room
Diane Villax receives the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary
The decoration was handed to Mrs. Villax by the Hungarian Ambassador to Portugal, Madame Klára Breuer, conferred on her by the President of the Republic of Hungary.
![Diane Villax receives the Officer s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary | Hovione](https://www.hovione.com/sites/default/files/styles/half_width_scaled/public/assets/images/diane_villax_receives_the_officer_s_cross_of_the_order_of_merit_of_hungary_hovione.jpg?itok=RkJ3i2Ny)
On January 22nd Mrs. Diane Villax, Founder Chairman, received the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary. The decoration was handed to Mrs. Villax by the Hungarian Ambassador to Portugal, Madame Klára Breuer, conferred on her by the President of the Republic of Hungary in recognition of the contribution to the development of education of Chemical Engineers through helping students of the Budapest Technical University financially and professionally.
The ceremony took place at the Hungarian Embassy in Lisbon and was attended by representatives of the Embassy, the Portuguese Government, Hovione, friends and members of the Villax family.
![Diane Villax receives the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of Hungary | Hovione](https://www.hovione.com/sites/default/files/styles/half_width_scaled/public/assets/images/madame_klara_breuer_and_diane_villax_hovione.jpg?itok=EUErjHH3)
Since 1993, Hovione has received graduate students from the Faculty of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology of the Budapest University of Technology and Economics, alma mater of Dr. Ivan Villax. In 2008, a protocol was signed between the University and Hovione, which pledges to annually receive one to two students in the area of R&D, giving them financial and professional support.
It was an intimate ceremony and Mrs. Villax expressed her appreciation of the award saying “this is the story of how the traineeship program came about and which is the basis of the honour I have received today. All I have to say is thank you very much and we intend to continue, our tag line "In it for Life" with many interpretations”.
Learn more about the Ivan Villax Traineeship