Award ceremony for the Legion of Honor for higher education at the University of Reunion

2th October, 2023

This Monday, October 02, the Legion of Honor for Higher Education award ceremony took place on the site of the University Technology Park (PTU)

Created in 2010 by the Society of Members of the Legion of Honor (SMLH), the “Honour in Action” approach aims to reward projects whose main purpose is to help those who need it.

Thanks to a system of corporate sponsorship, it provides material, human or financial support to project leaders, thus enabling them to pursue their commitment in a concrete and vigorous way in the service of the Nation.

As part of this approach, the Réunion section of the SMLH signed a partnership agreement with the University of Réunion and the E. Leclerc establishments of Réunion to support among the 1283 students in the second year of the master's degree of the establishment for the 2022-2023 academic year, 4 particularly deserving students by granting them financial assistance which will alleviate their material difficulties and enable them to cope in better conditions with the necessities of student life.

9 candidates were pre-selected, on the basis of their intellectual and human qualities (quality of the work provided and results obtained; commitment and perseverance in the effort; state of mind and moral integrity; sense of honor and influence).

“These awards highlight the excellence of our youth and it is an honor to support the student public on the path to success”

Frédéric MIRANVILLE, President of the University of La Réunion

The winning candidates

  • 1st prize of the Legion of Honor and Higher Education: €1
    • BAPIKEE Irfane, student at the National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education of the University of La Réunion
  • 2nd prize of the Legion of Honor and Higher Education: €700
    • DIJOUX Marie Emilie, student at the National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education of the University of La Réunion
  • 3nd prize of the Legion of Honor and Higher Education: €500
    • CHE Alexandre, student of the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of the University of Réunion
  • 4nd prize of the Legion of Honor and Higher Education: €300
    • JAFFUER Pierre, student of the Faculty of Sciences and Technologies of the University of La Réunion

The 9 candidates pre-selected by the jury

  • BALAZI Kelly, Master 2 MEEF 2nd degree physical and chemical sciences course within the National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education
  • BAPIKEE Irfane, Master 2 MEEF Mathematics course within the National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education
  • CHE Alexandre, Master 2 Biodiversity, ecology, evolution Biodiversity of ecosystems, tropical aquatic and island courses (BEST ALI) within the UFR Sciences and Technologies
  • DIJOUX Marie Emilie, Master 2 MEEF 1st degree school teacher course within the National Higher Institute of Teaching and Education Section of Reunion Island
  • GINDREY Julie, Master 2 Biodiversity, ecology, evolution Biodiversity of ecosystems, tropical aquatic and island courses within the UFR Sciences and Technologies
  • HOARAU Raphael, Master 2 English-speaking world within the UFR Letters and Human Sciences
  • JAFFUER Pierre, Master 2 MEEF IT course within the UFR Sciences and Technologies
  • VEE Ivan Olivier, Master 2 IT course within the UFR Sciences and Technologies
  • VELIN Orlane, Master 2 Biodiversity, ecology, evolution Biodiversity of ecosystems, tropical aquatic and island courses (BEST ALI) within the UFR Sciences and Technologies

  • Pr Gilles LAJOIE, President of the Academic Council, University of La Réunion
  • Dr Jérôme GARDODY, Vice-President Training and University Life, University of La Réunion
  • Dr. Hélène PONGERARD, HDR Lecturer, University of La Réunion
  • Ms. Caroline MAETZ, HR Development Manager, Établissements E.Leclerc
  • General (cr) Yvon LUCAS, honorary president of the La Réunion section of the SMLH
  • Ms. Christiane ANDRE, 1st vice-president of the Reunion section of the SMLH
  • Professor Patrick HERVE, honorary president of the University of La Réunion, member of the La Réunion section of the SMLH
  • Mr. Bernard SALVA, member of the office of the La Réunion section of the SMLH

The Legion of Honor, the Society of Members of the Legion of Honor (SMLH) and its
Reunion section
Created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the Légion d'honneur is the highest of our national distinctions which rewards “eminent merits acquired in the service of the Nation” in a civil or military capacity. The Legion of Honor has three ranks (knight, officer, commander) and two dignities (grand officer and grand cross). It currently has approximately 92 living holders.


Created in 1921 and placed under the high patronage of the President of the Republic, Grand Master of the National Order of the Legion of Honor, and the Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor, the SMLH is an association which brings together, in France and abroad, decorated volunteers wishing to promote the values ​​of the Order and those of solidarity and mutual aid.


It sets itself three missions:

  • Contribute to the prestige of the national order of the Legion of Honor and contribute to the influence of the values ​​and culture of France on national territory and abroad,
  • promote in French society the values ​​embodied by the Legion of Honor and contribute to the development of the civic and patriotic spirit, in particular through educational activities among young people,
  • participate in activities or actions of national solidarity while strengthening bonds of mutual aid between members.

Its motto is “Honor – Homeland – Solidarity”

Created in 1962, the Reunion section has been chaired since March 2022 by Lieutenant-Colonel (h) Ary LANGENIER and it is organized into three committees (North-East, West, South). It currently has more than 200 members. In addition to mutual aid and solidarity actions towards its most vulnerable members, the section carries out numerous actions:

  • Outreach actions: participation in public ceremonies, patriotic demonstrations or presentations of decorations, strengthening links with legionnaires from other islands in the southwest of the Indian Ocean, etc.
  • Actions to strengthen national cohesion at the youth level in particular (more than 5 young people affected on average each year): interventions in schools, promotion of students and apprentices, support for young civic service volunteers, development of civic and patriotic spirit, duty of memory and transmission of the values ​​of the Republic, participation in the National Resistance and Deportation Competition and the citizens' rally organized by the academic trio of Reunion.

As part of the “Honour in Action” approach, the section awards several prizes each year:

  • citizen initiative award
  • prices of preparatory classes for grandes écoles
  • price of final classes of vocational high schools
  • apprenticeship price
  • Legion of Honor award for higher education

The establishments E. LECLERC REUNION
E. Leclerc Réunion, has always been voluntary and proactive in supporting projects and partnerships that allow young people to achieve in their academic or professional careers.
“Through this prize and this partnership, we wish to support motivated and talented Reunionese students but also promote the values ​​of excellence and exemplarity among young Reunionese men and women”. Pascal THIAW KINE.
The third largest employer on the island, the brand which will celebrate its 15th anniversary on the territory next year also places employment, inclusion, skills development and fulfillment through work at the heart of its concerns. 

The University of Reunion
The University of Reunion occupies a unique place: it is the only Reunion university in Indianoceania. This positioning at the heart of the Africa – Asia axis gives it a major role as ambassador of French Higher Education, Research and Innovation in the area. Since 1982, the institution has gradually been built to fully serve its territory today through the training and social and professional integration of its youth but also through excellent scientific research as well as regional and international influence. more and more important.


The establishment has continued to grow over the years, both in terms of the student population of occupied geographical sites as well as the training offered and the partnerships established with local, national and international institutions.


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