Two students who make up the Judo branch of the University of La Serena had an outstanding participation in the Trasandean Youth Games that were held in Arica.

The judoka students from the University of La Serena had an outstanding participation in the XVI version of the JUDEJUT, managing to win two important medals in the tournament that brings together Argentina, Bolivia, Peru and Chile, which was the country that hosted the tournament.

Camila Galleguillos, a first-year student of Agricultural Engineering, won the silver medal in the +70 kg category, in addition to being the captain of the women's team that obtained fifth place.

Likewise, Fabián Veliz, a second-year student of Civil Engineering, obtained 3rd place in the -73 kg category and as captain he led his team to achieve 3rd place, thus being able to give 2 bronze medals to the country in this important international competition. .

The Judo professor, Fernando Astudillo, highlighted the spirit of healthy competition that the University students demonstrated in this relevant sporting event that brings together 4 neighboring countries. ''An outstanding participation, because Camila was the captain of the women's team and Fabián of the men's team (...) This championship has something very important that is about sporting fraternity,'' he said. 

Finally, it should be noted that the Judo classes corresponding to the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the DGAE, take place on Mondays and Wednesdays at 19:30 p.m. and on Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Isabel Bongard Campus Amphitheater .

Volleyball, basketball, table tennis and athletics are the disciplines that face 7 higher education institutions in the region for sporting glory.

In dependencies of the University of La Serena, a new version of the Higher Education Sports Leagues began, a competition that brings together 7 regional houses of study, between public and private universities and professional institutes.

The regional tournament lasts until September, in 4 disciplines: volleyball, basketball, table tennis and athletics. It should be noted that the Higher Education Sports Leagues program was born in 2011 as a result of an alliance between the National Sports Institute (IND) and the National University Sports Federation (Fenaude).

Yesterday it was the turn of volleyball and in the first match, the UCN (Coquimbo Headquarters) defeated its counterpart from UST in ladies. In the second match, UST defeated UCN men in two tight sets. And in the last match of the day, the University of La Serena beat U. Central by 2 sets to 0 in a men's series.

Regarding the competition, the head of the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the ULS, Pedro Vergara, expressed the importance of this type of sporting event. ''We are breaking the myth that says that in higher education the athlete stops practicing and here it is shown that this is not the case, the athlete must practice until he finishes his career, that is why I think that this type of event is important and it is also a way to release stress from the academic part,'' he said.

Likewise, the director of the DGAE, Mg. Miguel Zuleta, stressed the space that sport has within the University. ''We value receiving this type of sports activities in our house of study, sports must continue to be promoted at the University and this is a clear example that we are committed to a healthy life,'' he said.

The educational institutions that participate in the Higher Education Sports League are: University of La Serena, Catholic University of the North (Coquimbo Headquarters), Technological University (Inacap), Santo Tomás University, AIEP, Santo Tomás Technical Training Institute and Center, and University Central. The competitions will take place at the ULS premises and the Francisco Sánchez Rumoroso stadium until September.

The place was obtained after obtaining a gold medal in the weightlifting competition, held in the 1st National Cup of Higher Education.

A new victory that fills the University of La Serena with pride was obtained by the 3rd year student of the Nursing degree, José Urrutia Pérez, who recently won a gold medal in the weightlifting competition, 85 Kg category, developed within the framework of the 1st National Higher Education Cup, held at the Santiago Olympic Training Center on Saturday, May 10 and Sunday, May 11. 

The 21-year-old student obtained this important distinction after managing to lift 115 kg in the Snatch Category and 145 kg in the Clean and Jerk Category.

''I am very happy after obtaining this achievement, for which I spent two months preparing. For my career, this is a very important step given that it is the first time that I go to an adult national. This means that I am doing things well and it is a triumph for my University,' he said.

The young athlete, who has represented the country in other competitions, competed against more than 120 young people from prestigious universities and institutes throughout the country. 

''For me it is very important that the University has supported me in this triumph, since unlike other students who participated in this competition, I was able to travel with all expenses paid and that is very important for us athletes,'' Urrutia emphasized. 

It should be noted that after obtaining this gold medal, the Nursing student was selected to represent Chile in the next Pan American Games organized in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, between May 26 and June 02

The groups brought the art of good tunar to the Hogar de Cristo, the Las Rosas Foundation and the La Pampa Community Center.

Various presentations that filled the city of La Serena with music and dance were carried out by the Female Student of the University of Antofagasta and the Tuna Female Azahares of the University of La Serena, dependent on the General Directorate of Student Affairs (DGAE), within the framework of the development of a cultural-musical exchange project between both groups.

The initiative considered the realization of various presentations by the UA Student in the regional capital, to which are added activities in the Region of La Araucanía, the Argentine provinces of Salta and Tucumán and the city of Lima in Peru. While the Tuna Femenina of the ULS will have the possibility of disseminating their work in Antofagasta in the month of June.

Regarding the possibility of receiving a sister group, Marcela González, from the Tuna Femenina Azahares, indicated that it is a very enriching experience "because it allows us to get to know each other and share the two versions that exist within the same tradition."

While Andrea Saavedra, from the Female Student Group of the University of Antofagasta, pointed out that the idea was that at the ULS they could learn "what we do as a female group in the field of tunas and student girls", also allowing them to motivate the students so that they dare to be part of these female groups.

The program of activities in La Serena began with the presentation given by the students of both groups to the Rector of the ULS, Dr. NIbaldo Avilés, and the authorities and directors of the host institution, which took place on Friday the 9th. of May in the offices of the Central House.

The presentations continued on Saturday the 10th at the Hogar de Cristo, the Las Rosas Foundation and the La Pampa Community Center (celebration of Mother's Day, coordinated with the Department of Culture of the Municipality of La Serena), activities in which they shared the art of good tunar and brought their joy to the community.

The activity allowed families and friends to enjoy a morning full of energy on the coastal edge of La Serena.

A great sports day was experienced by more than a hundred people who attended the recreational activity organized within the framework of the new institutional anniversary.

The cold morning did not prevent the enthusiasm and energy from allowing attendees to enjoy the two entertaining tests that had the La Serena Monumental Lighthouse as their starting point.

The attendees arrived on time at Av. del Mar, to participate in the sporting event that had the support of the Illustrious Municipality of La Serena, Los Andes Compensation Fund, Mutual de Seguridad, Lipigas, Aguas del Valle, Peña and Iduya, Imprenta Grafika, and Óptica d`Ibañez, among other important collaborators who supported the participants with gifts and services.

After the registration of each of the competitors, the entertaining dance and warm-up began, to immediately begin the cycling that allowed the participation of entire families. 

Subsequently, the 5K race began, where the skill of the most experienced athletes was complemented by the enthusiasm of the fans who completed the circuit, receiving spontaneous displays of support upon reaching the finish line. 

On this occasion, the Department of Physical Education and Sports, dependent on the General Directorate of Student Affairs of the ULS, joined the work of the Human Resources Directorate in the organization of the event. 

''This activity aims to create these wonderful environments, for people of different ages around the quality of life,'' said the director of Human Resources of the ULS, Mg. Héctor Bugueño, who thanked the participation of officials, family and friends of the state entity and the community who enthusiastically attended this call. Bugueño also thanked the institutions and professionals who made this a safe and trouble-free test.

Young people, children and adults expressed satisfaction with the initiative organized by the State University of the Coquimbo Region, among them Nicolás Guerrero, a student of Business Administration Engineering at the ULS, who pointed out that the important thing is to participate and live the experience of sport and healthy living.

While Matías Hidalgo, from the La Serena Handball club, commented "we like these initiatives, we always try to compete and promote the practice of the sport and it is very important that companies and organizers come together so that more people participate." .

Another of the runners was Sergio Valenzuela, who along with his entire family shares the love of sport. and my wife with my son Pedro Pablo on a bicycle.''

''Pedal and Run for your Health'' concluded with a raffle of attractive gifts among those registered, since as it was a recreational activity, the winners of each modality were not awarded.

As part of the celebration of the thirty-third institutional anniversary, the Department of Physical Education and Sports of the DGAE organized two entertaining soccer matches on the fields of the Andrés Bello Campus.

In the first match, the team of Ing. Ejecución Mecánica, current Intercarreras champion, defeated the selection of ULS alumni.

While in the underlying meeting, the officials and academics of the University of La Serena defeated the municipal officials of La Serena.

At the end of the friendly matches, the head of the Department of Physical Education and Sports, Pedro Vergara, presented trophies to the captains of the winning teams, whom he thanked for their participation in this sports day, which commemorated a new anniversary of the state team.