Future Teacher, Student Assistant Proclaimed STI Student of the Year 2011
From five promising STIers emerged two exemplars of character, intellect, and well-roundedness as STI concluded its annual search for the Student of the Year 2011 (SOY).
Making it to the list of this prestigious award are aspiring teacher Jemima R. Velado, a Bachelor of Secondary Education Major in Computer Education (BSEDCE) student from STI College – Balayan and tech-savvy Denmark M. dela Cruz from STI San Jose, a 2-Year Information Technology (IT) student. Both Jemima and Denmark bagged the most coveted awards in the Baccalaureate and Pre-Baccalaureate categories respectively, after passing a series of stringent and tedious qualifying rounds and besting other outstanding nominees from different STI campuses nationwide.
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Jemima R. Velado Southern Luzon Area & National Level |
Denmark M. Dela Cruz Northern Luzon Area & National Level |
The final round was held on April 15, 2011 at the STI Academic Center where all of the contenders faced a group of STI Executives through a panel interview. Standing out from the group was Jemima, whose idealism and passion in teaching, won the hearts of the pane lists. For her, "A teacher is someone who never stops learning and teaches beyond what she knows. Furthermore, a teacher's role does not only take place inside the classroom – she can also share her knowledge outside the school and make an impact to the community."Jemima shared that her parents, both pastors and missionaries, inspired her to become a teacher someday.
On the other hand, equally deserving of the title is a very inspiring Student Assistant. Denmark, despite being financially challenged, pursued his dream to finish his college education. He considered poverty as the hardest challenge in his life that molded his character and motivated him to achieve his goal. "Being financially challenged motivates me to persevere and excel in all the things I do, especially in my studies. Likewise, I am the only person in our family who has finished college and I want to also share this opportunity with my older brother by sending him to school as soon as I can. I admit, he's even smarter than me," he proudly said. Aside from being a student leader with notable scholastic record, he is also actively involved in various church activities in his community.
Other contenders who qualified in the national level pre-baccalaureate category were Carlo M. Banaag (Hotel and Restaurant Services (HRS) student from STI College – Las Piñas) and Dan Kristoffer A. Rodriguez, (2 - year IT student of STI College – Sta. Rosa and Southern Luzon SOY awardee). Meanwhile, Janina B. Jayme (a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration Major in Operations Management (BSBAOM) student from STI College – Novaliches and SOY recipient of Northern Luzon) put up a good fight with Jemima in the baccalaureate category.
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Dan Kristoffer A. Rodriguez Southern Luzon Area |
Janina B. Jayme Northern Luzon Area |
The STI SOY awards is an annual recognition rite for outstanding students who have excelled academically, exemplified effective leadership skills, and gained achievements within and outside the STI academic community.
The nominees were screened based on their academic and extra-curricular performances, including the awards they earned in school competitions. To qualify, a nominee must be a bona fide graduating STI student enrolled in a baccalaureate (four- or five-year course) or pre-baccalaureate (two- or three-year course) program, has earned at least 75% of the total curriculum units in any STI campus, has no failing grade in any course or module, has no minor or major offense during his or her entire stay at STI, and has earned a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 1.50.
Congratulations to the SOY awardees and nominees!
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