Personalities from the University of West Bohemia may appear on Viktoria jerseys

Pilsen has a number of personalities without whom it would not be what it is today. Gambrinus and FC Viktoria Plzeň, in cooperation with important institutions, have therefore selected 22 local legends, whom the players will commemorate by giving them a place on their jerseys on October 26.

The names on the jerseys are already certain. Now it's a matter of getting them into the starting lineup. Miroslav Lávička, rector of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen, nominated Magdalena Toušová, head of the University of the Third Age (U3V), and Pavel Drábek, world-renowned mathematician and teacher, to represent the university in the Pilsen Shines for Legends event.

"He was there at the birth of our alma mater. He has educated generations of students and young scientists. Professor Pavel Drábek is a true legend of our University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. Thanks to him, Pilsen has become a respected center of science and education. His work gives Pilsen a global dimension," said Miroslav Lávička, rector of the University of West Bohemia.

Pavel Drábek from the Faculty of Applied Sciences has long been involved in the field of nonlinear functional analysis – a highly theoretical branch of mathematics that finds application in a wide range of natural, technical, and other disciplines. He is the author of internationally recognized professional publications and monographs and ranks among the top of the world's most cited scientists according to the prestigious Stanford list. In 1997, he received the Josef Hlávka Award for scientific literature, in 2013 the Bernard Bolzano Honorary Medal awarded by the Czech Academy of Sciences, and in 2020 the Silver Medal of the President of the Senate. This year, he also received a medal for his contribution to the development of science.

The rector said the following about another nominee: "Magdalena leads and builds the University of the Third Age. She opens up education to seniors and connects generations through education. Thanks to her enthusiasm, the university has become a natural part of the life of the city and its inhabitants, regardless of age."

Magdalena Toušová has long been involved in social work and education for seniors. Her work focuses on memory training, reminiscence, and dementia in seniors. From 2019 to 2022, she was president of the Association of Universities of the Third Age. For her work, she received the Anděl 2024 award in the Angel Hands category for her work in social services beyond her professional duties. Her activities also extend beyond the region – for example, in 2023, she presented the U3V ZČU model to a Moldovan delegation, which described it as an example of support for active aging.

Support your alma mater – you can decide whether the nominated UWB personalities will appear on the jerseys of the starting lineup from September 15 to October 12 by voting.