En_Los_Zapatos_de_Jose_Maria_Maldonado

In the shoes of José María "Chema" Maldonado

IN THE SHOES OF

February 2, 2026

STUDENT NEWSLETTER

Winner of the first edition of award John Henry Newman award , José María Maldonado—Chema to his friends—is in his fourth year of Degree double Degree Law and Economics.

Born in the Canary Islands and a lawyer at heart, Chema found in an essay an opportunity to combine classical thought and current politics. His work, created within the framework Great Books program, earned him recognition that he received from Vancouver, almost unexpectedly.

Ambitious, restless, and keenly aware that crises can also be a starting point, today we put ourselves in his shoes.

1. How did you find out about the award?
I read about it in the bulletin "Campus."

2. What topic your essay on essay why?
The essay titled From Crisis to Action: Cicero and John F. Kennedy. I applied what I learned in the Logos & Polis subject and wanted to reflect on how, in times of crisis, an speech can rewrite history.

3. Why would you encourage other students to enter this contest? Any tips?
Because the core topic in the work during the subject: in the Great Books program, you are not tested with a traditional exam, but with an essay. If you do that work well work take advantage of the professor's feedback, you have something to say, an argument of your own. My committee simple: take advantage of the subject, write your ideas in the essay submit it.

4. How do you feel about receiving this award?
It was a huge surprise. I was in Vancouver and wasn't expecting it at all. I had submitted my application months earlier and had almost forgotten about it. It was a great joy to receive the news from afar.

5. Laws or numbers?
Laws. I have more of a legal mind.

6. To unwind, beach or mountains?
Las Canteras Beach, without a doubt.

7. Extreme cold or intense heat?
Heat: in Canada, I saw that without the sun, people fade away.

8. What TV series, book, and movie would you always recommend?
TV series: The Queen's Gambit; book: Brideshead Revisited; and movie: Casablanca.

9. A song you never tire of listening to
Free Fallin’, John Mayer’s version.

10. Tortilla with or without onions?
With onions, and if it's juicy, even better.

11. Disney character you identify with
Lightning McQueen. He has many ambitions, but at first he goes down the wrong path. He learns that you don't always have to run so fast and that core topic to stop is core topic .

12. Your favorite spot on campus why
The Belagua garden, phase 1, when autumn arrives and the vines change color. I love that atmosphere.

13. What three things would you put in your backpack if you were going to a desert island?
A guitar—even though it won't fit in my backpack—the Bible, and matches.

14. Favorite board game
Chess and Catan.

15. If you could go out for pintxos with a historical figure, who would it be?
Saint Thomas More.

16. Something you didn't like before but now do
Reading classics. Thanks to CORE, I've developed a much stronger reading habit.

17. One word that defines you
Restless.

18. Favorite soccer team
Unión Deportiva Las Palmas.

19. Where do you see yourself in five years?
Enjoying life; family and work.

20. The University of Navarra is...
Much more than we think.