Jannik Sinner receives the nicest compliment from a brilliant woman

Amalia Ercoli Finzi, the first Italian woman to earn a degree in aeronautical engineering and Professor Emerita at the Polytechnic University of Milan, joined Minister of Sports and Youth Andrea Abodi in leading the discussion that kicked off the fifth edition of Sky Up The Edit, Sky’s project dedicated to schools aimed at fostering teamwork and the development of new digital skills through the creation of multimedia content.

On the sidelines of the event, the brilliant 89-year-old spoke to Sportal.it and also touched on Jannik Sinner. “I like him very much. He’s the son every mother would want to have,” she said. “Rather than a ‘tech-savvy’ player, I’d call him an intelligent player—one who uses his head when he’s on the court. But you need your head for everything, even when you’re grocery shopping.”

Over 70 students participated in the opening panel discussion, moderated by Sarah Varetto, Executive Vice President of Communications, Inclusion, and Bigger Picture at Sky Italia. The discussion centered on the importance of curiosity as a starting point for discovering, learning, and growing in an ever-changing world. Ercoli Finzi herself emphasized how space has taught us just how fundamental science, technology, engineering, and mathematics are to tackling complex challenges, reminding students that mistakes are part of the journey and should be turned into learning opportunities.

This fifth edition features a significant new addition: Sky Up Gen STEM, a new project focused on the world of data, artificial intelligence, and STEM disciplines. Middle and high school classes already enrolled in Sky Up The Edit will be able to participate in workshops at the Sky studios that combine learning, experimentation, and creativity. Sky Up Academy Studios is also returning—the experience that takes students directly to Sky’s television studios in Milan for a day—and this year it has been extended to include middle school students as well.

Now in its fifth edition, the project has already brought together over 35,000 students from elementary and secondary schools across Italy during previous editions. Once again this year, participating classes will transform into a small newsroom and create original multimedia content dedicated to the theme of respect in the digital world or in sports. Teachers will have until April 16, 2027, to submit the multimedia content, which will be evaluated by a jury of experts: the schools of the three winning classes will receive 5,000 euros worth of educational materials and the opportunity to see their work broadcast on Sky channels.