The launching of the 4th Vice President Noli De Castro Academic Excellence and Exemplary Leadership Awards, Search for Ten Outstanding Public School Students (TOPS) in Baguio City recently signals the reopening of opportunities for poor but deserving students to gain college educational scholarships.

This was according to lawyer Jesse Andres, De Castro’s Chief-of- Staff, saying the program aims to recognize public secondary students who have shown exemplary performance in academics and leadership despite experiencing hardships and other challenging circumstances.

Implemented in 2006, the program has already provided scholarships to numerous deserving students from Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao who underwent competitive examinations, in-depth interviews and screening where the selection committee probed their life.

"The life stories of the selected student scholars serve as an inspiration to the youth to hurdle their own personal challenges in achieving their goals. The student awardees have shown that through perseverance and hard work, poverty should not be a hindrance to success," Andres said.

Last year, Alyssa Tricia Eloisa “Ai-Ai” Vintola clinched the Visayas Academic Excellence Award and is now enrolled in full scholarship at the Ateneo de Manila University taking up BS Electronics and Communications Engineering. She is now sharing her blessings and talents as one of the Student Trainers (STRAINS) in Ateneo where she acts as leadership trainer to high school students.

Andres said yesterday's launching coincided with the 7th National Leadership Training for Student Government Officers which is also being held in Baguio where STRAINS are actively participating.

In a video message for the participants, De Castro urged the young leaders to join the awards and search. "Malaki ang papel na ginagampanan ng kabataan sa pag-unlad ng ating bayan. Bilang suporta sa ating kabataan, inaanyayahan ko ang mga student leaders na lumahok sa naturang programa para makatanggap ng scholarships," he said.

Citing the important role of the youth in the country's development, De Castro said young Filipinos should be given the right education as it is the key to the realization of their dreams and the answer to poverty.

Andres said the four-year-old program is being implemented in cooperation with partners from the government and the private sector. Providing support for the program, he said, are the Department of Education (DepEd), Rotary Club of Midtown Quezon City District 3780, Rotary Club of Makati West 3830 and JobsDB.com.