EUCON International School on Friday honored its high school graduates and newly promoted middle and elementary school students, and encouraged them to “run the Christian race well.”
Yu Jun Jie received the President’s Award, which is given to a student who demonstrates obedience, spiritual maturity, godly manner and behavior in addition to outstanding academic achievement.
Wang Ze Ying earned the Dean’s Award, which is given to a student who demonstrates academic excellence.
The Principal’s Award went to Zheng Zhen Yu who demonstrated great improvement in academic learning as well as social, mental, emotional or spiritual growth.
The other graduating seniors were Sweksha Budhathoki, Rohan Nathan De Jesus, Shan Mei Joy Li, Princess Shaina Lopez, Janvien Carlo Pascua, Joy Esther Yan, Ganlin Zhang and Yi Nuo Dai.
Among the newly promoted middle school students, Faith Ellis Bautista received the President’s Award; Kylie Andrea Concepcion, the Dean’s Award; and Rao Hao Yun, the Principal’s Award.
Newly promoted elementary school students Victor Neil Maniego Santos and Michaella Naoe received the President’s Award and the Dean’s Award, respectively.
Among the 11th graders, Cheng Zhi Han received the President’s Award; Kiara Leigh Chen, the Dean’s Award; and Jia Shuo Song, the Principal’s Award.
The other awardees:
• 10th Grade – EnLin Hong, President’s Award; Yu Fei Min, Principal’s Award.
• 9th Grade – Rohana Maegan De Jesus, Dean’s Award; Jun Wen Yu, Principal’s Award.
• 1st Grade – Gilliane La Torre Nillo, President’s Award; Carlie Wang Bai, Dean’s Award; and Peter Wang Hong Hao Zhang, Principal’s Award.
• 2nd Grade – Janine Aryana Esguerra Paras, President’s Award; Dancel Asher Asuncion Pitpit, Dean’s Award; Kenzo Jace Hernando Ramos, Principal’s Award.
• 3rd Grade – Stacey Lian Bohol Ramon, Dean’s Award.
• 4th Grade – Jia Yu Qiu, Dean’s Award; Grace Jane Tian, Principal’s Award.
• 5th Grade – Athena Iva Lacea, President’s Award; and Zabdiel Aiden Guevarra Ong, Dean’s Award.
‘The race before us’
In his remarks, Eucon vice president Sean Sartler, Ph.D., talked about Hebrews 12:1 which says, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”
Sartler, who is also a 12th grade teacher, said if being a Christian were a race, “we need to know how to run it well.”
He offered the graduates the following advice:
“Cast aside anything that hinders,” he said.
“Graduates, you have a difficult task before you,” he added. “There are things in life that hinder those who are running a Christian race. Cellphones, computers and social media, for example. Although those technology made everyone more connected to the world than even before, and although it is not necessarily wrong to watch videos on YouTube for example, these things draw you away from the things that are…valuable…. They draw you away from pursuing a relationship with Jesus Christ — they draw you away from your savior, the most precious thing in your life.”
Sartler added, “Run the race, with patience and endurance.”
He told the gradates that “life will not go the way you want it or expect it to go. Expect the unexpected.” But, “if you are determined to follow Christ, I guarantee you that you will find yourself in ways that you might not have ever dreamed you would be.”
A long journey
In his speech, senior student and President’s awardee Jun Jie Yu said, “It has been a long journey for many of us to come to this point — the end of high school.”
He said these past years, “we all have gone through many different hardships including Covid and Yutu; however, we must remember that God had been with us throughout these hardships. If it were not, we would not have been able to attend this graduation. Throughout these years, I have learned many things —- whether they be academic or spiritual. I have been able to gain many experiences and am able to learn about God. Additionally, I have been able to make many friends. These are just some of the many blessings I have received during my time in Eucon.”
He advised the younger students to persevere. “With God, you can definitely accomplish all your schoolwork. As Dr. Sartler says, ‘When you start well, you need to also finish well.’ ”
Eucon’s high school graduates, from left: Janvien Carlo Pascua, Zheng Zhen Yu, Dai Yi Nuo, Yu Jun Jie, Rohan Nathan De Jesus, Sweksha Budhathoki, Shan Mei Joy Li, Esther Joy Yan, Wang Ze Ying, Princess Shaina Lopez, and Zhang Gan Lin.
Eucon’s newly promoted middle school students.
Eucon’s newly promoted elementary school students.
The President’s Award recipient, Yu Jun Jie, delivers his speech.
Janvien Carlo Pascua delivers his speech while the Dean’s Award recipient, Wang Ze Ying, waits for her turn.
Eucon’s vice president, Dr. Sean Sartler, speaks during the elementary and high school promotion/graduation ceremony in the Eucon auditorium on Friday.
