The year 2012 set a new record in the history of international science and math competitions for the Philippines as the Department of Science and Technology?Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) honored 308 elementary and high school students who won gold, silver, and bronze medals in the international arena.
DOST-SEI Director Filma G. Brawner said that 2012 was a record feat for the Philippines being the year with the highest number of Filipino elementary and high school students who reaped medals in international science and mathematics competitions in a year.
All of the award winning students were given recognition by DOST with the Youth Excellence in Science (Yes) Award, a DOST institutional award for exemplary achievement of the youth in the fields of science and mathematics and come in the form of a medal of distinction awarded by the Secretary of Science and Technology or the DOST Regional Director in a ceremony toward the end of each year.
During the Yes Awarding ceremony held at the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology auditorium in Diliman, Quezon City, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo cited the students for marking historic harvest of medals in the international science and math contest scene. A total of 171 medalists from the National Capital Region were present during the ceremony.
A total of 340 medals were brought home for the Philippines in various science and mathematics competitions abroad in 2012.
This is the first time in the recognition program?s six-year history that the number of Yes Awardees reached over 300. The previous high was 297 during 2009.
Saint Jude Catholic School topped the number of schools with most medals with 22 won by 14 students, while Grace Christian College came in close with 21 medals from 14 students.
The students competed in contests in different countries such as Singapore, India, Romania, Malaysia, Argentina, Taiwan, and China.
