OUTSTANDING students from Mindanao’s public high schools will be adjudged as recipients of the second Vice President Noli de Castro Academic Excellence and Exemplary Leadership Awards as the national selection committee began in Davao City on Saturday.

Eleven finalists had been pre-qualified from among the hundreds of Mindanao’s exceptional students who joined the nationwide search.

Lawyer Jesse Andres, chairman of the selection committee and chief of staff of the Vice President, said those who will be chosen from among the qualifiers are not merely deserving students who have sterling academic records and outstanding leadership qualities but students who have hurdled economic and social obstacles to attain excellence and become exemplary.

“What distinguishes the VP de Castro awards from the rest is that we recognize the achievements of young people who have excelled and overcome the constraints that bear on them due to poverty that serve as inspiration to others,” Andres said.

Eleven qualifiers for both academic and excellence and exemplary leadership categories include Francis Garrido from the Agusan National High School in Butuan City; Tulip Micarandayo from the Misamis Occidental National High School in Oroquieta City; Bona Ponpon, Baguio National High School of Arts and Trade, Davao City; Lea Francia, Tupi National High School, South Cotabato; Antonio Cabug, Regional Science High School for Region 11, Zamboanga City; and Gerilin Ano-os, Lapinigan National High School, Agusan del Sur.

Also among the finalists are Benralph Yu from the Davaa City National High School; Al Pajantoy from the Bukidnon National High School in Malaybalay City; Vienna Miranda, Tagum City National Comprehensive High School, Tagum City; Kate Benitez, Samal National High School, Island Garden City of Samal; and Dorothy Bacomo from the Agusan National High School in Butuan City, all for exemplary leadership awards.

The winners will receive scholarship grants, cash prizes and the Vice Presidential Medallion.

The nationwide search, launched two years ago, was made possible under the auspices of the Office of the Vice President, the Department of Education represented by executive director Joey Pelaez, Kabayan Noli de Castro Foundation, and the Rotary Club of Midtown Quezon City District 3780 headed by president Davey de Dios.

Source: www.sunstar.com.ph

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