National Academic Olympic Winners Meet at the National Palace

National Academic Olympic Winners Meet at the National Palace
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic 11/18/2011

The young people participated in the National Math, Reading and Writing Olympics from 2005-2011.

“You are all a testament that living with values and responsibility and a commitment to oneself leads to progress and development,” said the President’s wife.

The student winners, competing from all over the country, were part of the academic Olympic program organized by the Office of the First Lady with the support of the Ministry of Education under the auspices of the Banco de Reservas. The winners met with President Leonel Fernández and First Lady, Margarita Cedeño.

Speaking to the group at the National Palace, the First Lady said the success of the young people present was the result of the National Televised Math, Reading and Writing Olympics project that began in 2005 in the Office of the First Lady. She said the program provides hope, expectations and enormous faith in the youth of the Dominican Republic.

“You are all a testament that living with values and responsibility and a commitment to oneself leads to progress and development,” said the President’s wife.

Cedeño de Fernández said she was inspired to undertake this competition in order to provide  motivation and opportunities for human development, the concept of continuous self improvement and academic excellence for Dominican students.

She stressed that with the participation of these young people, it is clear that academically strong students with huge potential are all over the country and that they are prepared to do their best to achieve personal goals, to shine academically and to even break a Guinness record.

Doctor Margarita Cedeño de Fernández said this Olympics program sets examples for other students and awakens in them a strong interest in the corresponding subjects.

She thanked the Ministry of Education and the Banco de Reservas for their support of this program which has surpassed all expectations and has left an indelible mark on the continuing search for excellence.

For her part, the Minister of Education, Josefina Pimentel, urged students to continue on the path they’re on and to encourage their fellow students to join them in their quest for knowledge and excellence.

Speaking for the students was Carlos José Toribio Ceballos, winner of the Mathematics contest for 2009; Héctor Aníbal Santillán Faulkner, winner of the Writing contest for 2007 and others on an international level. Yuniris Ramírez Familia, was the winner of the Olympic Reader for 2007 and Katherine Flete Fernández was the non-sighted winner of one of the reading contests. She thanked the First Lady for organizing these contests where many brilliant minds were gathered in one place.

President Leonel Fernández, the First Lady and the Minister of Education praised the teachers, judges and others involved for their support of the program and the contest.

The event took place in the Las Cariátides hall of the National Palace and was attended by government officials including the Ministers of Education, Josefina Pimentel, the Presidency, Luis Manuel Bonetti, Higher Education, Science and Technology, Ligia Amada Melo, and Minister of Youth, Franklin Rodríguez. Orión Mejía was there representing the Banco de Reservas.