This year, as #TheAlternativeSchool marks 20 years of private diplomacy - championing Romanian talent abroad through education, events, competitions, and community building - together with our partners we raised the bar in the most concrete way possible: access. 

We offered 117 scholarships that open doors, not just for attendance, but for real transformation and international relevance. 

At the heart of this effort sits the mini cMBA #FutureProofCreativity, designed for those who don’t want to “keep up”, but to shape what’s next - strategically, creatively, and with the kind of professional maturity that travels well across borders. And because momentum deserves a destination, the journey points to Cannes Lions 2026.

How did we managed to award so many scholarships? 

By collaborating closely with educational partners such as SNSPA Bucharest, UNAGE Iași, UVT and Școala de Valori, institutions that fully embraced the scholarship briefs proposed by this edition’s sponsors, Ursus Breweries and Invizibilii, the call for ideas travelled fast and far. 

Within days, the news landed in classrooms, studios, and student communities, reaching exactly the kind of curious minds it was designed for: young people hungry for real briefs, real stakes, and real visibility. 

The response confirmed what we’ve learned edition after edition: when you offer trust, a clear challenge, and a meaningful context, students don’t just “submit projects” - they build worlds. Proposals arrived in waves, each one more inventive, bold, and creatively unapologetic than the last, mixing sharp strategic thinking with unexpected craft, cultural intuition, and that special kind of bravery that shows up only when talent feels genuinely invited to the table.

Who are the lucky ones?

Adelina-Mihaela Petre, Adrian Brinovanu, Alexandra Broatec, Alexandra Docan, Alexandra Scripcă, Alexandra Soare, Alexandra Zamfirescu, Alexia-Ioana Barbu, Alexis Ion, Alice Predoiu, Ana Maria Vancea, Ana Rebeca Baias, Ana-Maria Mihai, Anamaria Grigore, Andreea Bibiruș, Andrei Bardan, Antonia Chiroiu, Arsen Dossan, Aura Bordei, Banu Andrei Mădălin, Belchiz Mauchi, Bianca Oancea, Bianca Stephanie Ion, Briana Olivia Coc, Carina Marisa Cichi, Cassia Ciocîrlan, Catalina Lavinia Mihaela Ceapa, Catalina Maimesco, Catalina Manea, Chifu Melania, Cială Cristina, Claudia Amuzică, Codrin Joacabine, Cosmina Ivan, Cristina Coman, Cristina Iordache, Cristu Andreea, Dacian Neagu, Dan Daneasa, Daria Ursu, David Čedík, David Delia Elena, Delia Dumitrache, Diana Iulia Manea, Diana Neagu, Dilafruz Nabiyeva, Doina Ilie, Drăghia Georgiana-Mihaela, Dumitrița Creangă, Elena Bivol, Gabriela Stanel, Gall Madalina, Georgiana Balan, Ghetea Roxana, Giani Păduraru, Ilinca Anastasiu, Ilinca Cucereavii, Ioana Alexandra Manea, Ioana Astefi, Ioana Iustina Lupei, Isac Emilia Denisa, Ivanna Yovzhiy, Javohirbek Abdullayev, Julieta Calotă, Katia Nadasan, Larisa Stefan, Laurentiu Sirghie, Loredana Morohai, Lorenț Raluca Maria, Luca Ștefan, Maria Cosma, Maria Gaitan, Maria Laura Mihai, Matei Galatanu, Mădălina Mantea, Mihaela Stanel, Mihnea Octavian Pașcu, Mina Comega, Nazym zhalmukhambet, Omucz Andreea, Pentiuc Marian, Pîrvan Geanina Andreea, Podaru Catalina Ioana, Pomazan Svitlana, Popîrțac Bianca Gabriela, Rabuianu Andreea Mădălina, Raisa Nechiforov, Raluca Enache, Raluca Marin, Rebeca Neagu, Roxana Brighenti, Roxana Filip, Sabina Rece, Saim Liviu Sebastian, Serghie Tabita Francisca, Simona Munteanu, Smaranda Oprina, Sofia Dalas, Steliana Calin, Șerp Sebastian-Gabriel, Tane Andra, Teodor Bivolaru, Teodora Botezatu, Teodora Ciot, Teodora Popescu, Teodora Simon, Teodora Vlad, Teona Burca, Țințar Ana-Maria, Tîrniceanu Briana Maria, Văduva Simona-Mihaela, Vlad Sima, Voinea Elena Andreea are the lucky ones who won scholarships to #FutureProofCreativity, the mini-cMBA that took place from November 5 to December 10.

What’s next?

Between December 10 and 16, an international jury of 33 highly talented communicators will evaluate the applications of the 36 teams that tackled the three competition briefs within the mini-cMBA. We will then find out which team will represent Romania at Cannes Lions 2026 in the Young Lions Design competition.

To be continued