Jace Pineda of Team E8 under teacher Marilyn Mendoza and Ezra Lizama of Team C2 under teacher Sharleen B. Crisostimo are this year’s top students.
Pineda received the highest honor, the Board of Education Award, while Lizama was given the Commissioner’s Award, the second highest honor.
In his remarks, school principal Jonas Barcinas said Hopwood will continue to provide the highest quality of learning to its students.
“There are many more steps for you to accomplish in your lives,” he told the students. “Continue to be diligent and practice all those [Expected Schoolwide Learning Results] and virtues you’ve learned from Hopwood.”
Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan and Board of Education Chairwoman Lucia Blanco-Maratita also gave their inspirational messages.
The keynote speaker was Sharleen B. Crisostimo who talked about how important it is to have dreams and goals in life.
“You are all smart and talented but it’s up to you how you will use it,” she told the students.
She emphasized how important education is and why it is the best investment of any student, parent, community or government.
She encouraged the students to love themselves so they will have love to give to others.
“You need to love yourself first, and that means respecting yourself enough to say no to things that make you feel uncomfortable, scared, or pressured,” she said.
//
