ADNU Student Leaders Romp Off in AYLC, JRMSP

By Rodolfo ‘Sonny’ SB. Virtus Jr.

Adding to the unparalleled directory of Ateneo de Naga University’s outstanding students who made their school proud once or more when their names screamed at the gate’s laudatory streamers, three ADNU student leaders seized milestones in two of the country’s most prestigious searches, the Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC) and the Search for Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines (JRMSP).

THE YOUNG HEROINE

The Pillars Publication editor in chief Marjorie Joy P. Alcozar was selected and ranked third in the JRMSP 2008.

Alcozar, senior Marketing Management student, passed through a rigid screening process. She first had  to contend with the University’s other top student leaders in a school level paper screening and panel interview until she became the unanimous choice of the screening committee convened by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA). From the hundreds of school nominees across the country, the Order of the Knights of Rizal named Alcozar as one of the 20 national finalists. She then faced prominent national figures from the Order in a make-or-break final interview last December 11. She was finally declared as one of the ten awardees on December 12 at the OKOR International Headquarters, Knights of Rizal Building in Manila.

The Order found Alcozar’s academic performance and leadership outstanding, the Search’s criteria, thereby epitomizing Rizalian qualities and the virtue of love of country, and serving as living model to her fellow youth.

In 2007, Ira Sheena C. Howard, one of Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP) 2008, won in the same Search.

The chief editor also became the sole delegate of ADNU in the 10th National Ayala Young Leaders Congress (AYLC) in San Miguel Corporation Training Center in Cavite last February 5-8 last year.

She also shared with other student leaders the recognition as Natatanging Lider Mag-aaral in the 2007 Gawad SSG.

Aside from being an academic scholar and a consistent President’s Lister, Alcozar holds responsible positions in some of the University’s most important student organizations such as The Pillars Publication. She was also the acting president of the Association of Bicol Business Students during the second semester last school year. She is involved in socio-civic organizations that aimed at empowering the youth and advancing their rights and promoting their dignity. Through her positions, she has also been able to articulate her stands on crucial national and local issues.  

She further served as speaker in various campus fora such as in Alternative Class Programs and The Pillars-sponsored journalism seminar-workshops, facilitator in Orsems, and participant in various events - from national conferences to cheer and dance competitions.

THE NEXT IN LINE

The College of Arts and Sciences posted twin wins through their students, namely, Channelle Anne B. Allorde (AB Political Science 3) and Jo-ed C. Tome (AB Psychology 3) who were selected as official delegates to the 11th AYLC that will be held on February 10-13 in Cavite.

The two passed through the most rigid screening process. The school level screening committee formed by OSA named them as two of ADNU’s ten official nominees after a meticulously exhaustive paper screening and interview. Their papers were then selected among hundreds of applicants for the final stage of AYLC’s screening and selection process – a panel interview at the Ayala Corporation’s headquarters in Makati where nominees were evaluated by the Ayala Group of Companies’ top executives.

Allorde and Tome now become the 19th and 20th AYLC delegates the University has produced in eleven years.

Allorde is the chairperson of the SSG Commission on Elections. But before her appointment as chief of Comelec, she first served responsible positions in her co-curricular organization, the Liga ng mga Estudyante sa Agham Pampulitika (LEAP). Through her leadership, Comelec posted an all-time high 45 percent increase in the 2008 SSG General Elections turnout, her most important leadership achievement so far.

Allorde, with fellow leader and education student Paul Francis N. Lagarde, was also  earlier selected as one of ADNU’s two delegates to the 7th Ateneo Student Leaders’ Assembly (ASLA) held last October 20-24, 2007. ASLA is an AYLC-inspired leadership training program run by the Sanggunian ng mga Mag-aaral ng mga Paaralang Loyola ng Ateneo de Manila for some 35 college student leaders coming from the five Ateneos in the country.

Tome, one the other hand, has held vital positions in the Association of Psychology Students in Ateneo (APSA).The highest position he assumed in the co-curricular organization was internal vice president last school year. He considers his involvements in the various community outreach programs of the Psychology Department as his greatest and most sustainable contributions to the Ateneo community.

The two have similarities in their profiles as both graduated valedictorian in their respective high schools and both are consistent President’s Listers. Both are also expected to expand their leadership reach in their last year in college after their AYLC experience.

In February, Allorde and Tome shall undergo a three-day summit that will bring together around 70 student leaders from all over the country. The leadership training program will highlight a specially designed workshops, lectures, outdoor activities, plenary sessions and discussions with some internationally and nationally recognized individuals for their positive impact on national development. This 11-year old program of the Ayala Corporation is anchored on the company’s belief that quality education and value-based leadership formation go hand in hand to equip the Filipino youth for their present and future role in nation building.