FIDEL Nimer Palacios, 11, and April Rita Indalecio, 12, are this year’s outstanding students of San Antonio Elementary School.
The students, who will enroll at Hopwood Junior High in the new school year, led their batch of 44 sixth graders during yesterday’s promotion ceremony.
Palacios, the recipient of three other special awards, is the youngest son of Lolita and Jose Palacios.
“I am so happy to receive this honor and I’d like to offer this to my loving parents who supported me all the way since the beginning,” he told Variety.
Saying that the next phase of his education is somehow “a little bit harder,” Palacios vowed to continue striving for the best.
“I know it’s going to be hard and challenging…but I intend to focus and do well again at Hopwood,” he said.
Palacios expressed his gratitude to his mentors who pushed him to become the best.
“I owe my teachers a lot. I thanked them for all their hard works,” the commissioner’s awardee said.
April Rita Z. Indalecio is this year’s salutatorian and recipient of the Principal’s Award.
The daughter of Jingmin and Albert Indalecio, she received three other special recognitions — perfect attendance, the Excellence Award, and the Presidential Gold Award.
“It feels great!” she told Variety.
April Indalecio described her days at San Antonio as “fun, educational, and challenging.”
She believes that with the same dedication and commitment to education, “I know I can still do well in my junior high…and that’s my goal.”
She said she’s ready to face more “difficult, challenging” situations.
“I want to become a doctor…and I know I can never fulfill this dream of mine if I will not continue aiming for the stars. I will keep my dreams because I know I can achieve them,” she said, adding that with the continued support and guidance of her family she is confident that she can make it to the top.
Top 10 sixth graders for this school year were Palacios, Indalecio, Edinna Cepeda, Bertran Palacios, Dhale Larsen Posadas, Shirley Kentaro, Rayven Ferrer, Hiram Castro, Khaiza Germance, and Alaiza Fe Basto.
School principal Katrina Lizama, in her message, thanked the students for the honors they achieved.
Yesterday’s event was also attended by Education Commissioner David M. Borja, Board of Education Chairwoman Lucy Blanco-Maratita, and was keynoted by Rep. Ralph DLG. Torres, R-Saipan.
