Roca Prize
| Roca Prize | |
|---|---|
 Logo and Medal of the Roca Prize | |
| Awarded for | Outstanding contributions to the region in the sciences, humanities and public affairs. |
| Sponsored by | Fundación Monsa |
| Location | Prince's Palace of Monsa |
| Country | Monsa |
| Presented by | Letizia Giusti of Monsa, Sovereign Princess of Monsa |
| First awarded | 1915; 109 years ago |
| Website | premiosroca |
The Roca Prize (Spanish: Premio Roca) is a set of international prizes awarded in Monsa by the Monsa Foundation and presented by the Sovereign Princess of Monsa Letizia Giusti in representation of the people of Monsa. It is awarded in recognition of academic, cultural, scientific and humanitarian advances to organisations and personalities. Since its creation in 1915, it has been awarded 431 times.
The prize is named after Nicolás Roca, a Monsan diplomat, philanthropist and writer whose work in promoting peace, mediating during conflicts and literature made him gain international recognition. The prize was created in 1915 by the then Prince of Monsa Fernando IV Giusti after Roca's death to continue his legacy of promoting and sponsoring human development in different fields. The first set of prizes were inaugurated by Fernando IV and since then, the awards ceremony is considered part of the tradition of life in the Principality. Throughout the decades, the Roca Prizes have recognised different important advances for humanity and several organisations like the Astyrian Federation of Red Cross Societies, the Lorecian Community or the Regional Environmental and Ecological Fund as well as personalities such as Mahya Taheri, Pedro Garre and Marie von Thurn.
The prize is annually awarded in a solemn ceremony at the Prince's Palace of Monsa, to which numerous royals and important figures assist. The prize is commonly handed by the person that bears the title of Sovereign Prince or Princess of the Principality of Monsa and includes a diploma, a sculpture and a special medal in addition to a monetary prize of approximately 100,000 Monsan Francs. The prize is awarded in the fields of Art, Medicine, Literature, Social Sciences, Social Progress and Scientific Research.
Background
The Roca Prizes were established in 1915 by the Prince Fernando IV Giusti of Monsa after the death of Nicolás Roca, who in his will left the intention of creating a foundation from where the people of the Principality of Monsa would award advances on the fields of arts, sciences, humanities and public affairs. Nicolás Roca, born in Monsa in 1837, was a well-known philanthropist, diplomat and writer. Nicolás' intentions were received by the Prince Fernando IV, who was aware of his work in life as a Monsan diplomat and writer, and established the awards with the current set of 6 different prizes.