by Rydelle Apostol and Yanina Baltazar, The Herald Chronicle

STEFTI Senior High students secured multiple awards in the annual Citywide Youth Leadership Training 2022 Virtual Edition (vCWYLT 2022) sponsored by UP Halcyon of the UP Visayas Tacloban College last March 17-19, 2022. These students engaged in various contests circulating around the theme #ForReal: Converging Youth Leadership and Climate Action Towards Socio-Environmental Sustainability.

For the group category, STEFTI emerged as Champion in the contest PAMINAW UG TAN-AW: An Environmental Music Video Campaign. Delegates Danielle Chynna Añover, Rydelle Apostol, John Burce, Marie Noelle Castillo, Norbert Mate, and Kirzten Viness Nogar produced the original song and directed the entry.

Sofia Nicole Cam also romped away with the First Place medal in HULAGWAY: A Digital Poster Making Contest. Zairach Ramirez, who also took part in the aforementioned contest, achieved Third Place.

Furthermore, the entry for the GTK (Get To Know) Video Contest landed Second Place. It was participated in by John Burce, Pia Declarador, Rachelle Falculan, Frances Ciana Maraya, Cyianine Munar, Jhea Nasinopa, Aileen Ocado, and Danielle Anne Ricote

Pia Declarador and Jhea Nasinopa, members of GD Team No. 2 or “Ninja TWOrtles” earned the award of Best Advocacy in KaLIKHAsan: An Environmental Advocacy Making Contest, with their entry titled Glitz and Green: Put the Fast in the Past and Let’s Make it Last!. Through the contest, Declarador gained the title of Green Panther for her exemplary presentation of the said advocacy. Their team was also awarded as Eco-Warriors for accumulating the highest points throughout the event.

For the special awards, Danielle Anne Ricote was declared yCWYLT Most Outstanding Youth Leader, which is given to the most exceptional and promising delegate in the event. Ricote was also granted the award Fervent Fireflies along with other participants Aileen Ocado, Kirzten Viness Nogar, and Pia Declarador.  They were considered as guiding lights that helped steer their team into the right direction.

On the other hand, delegates Rydelle Apostol and Frances Ciana Maraya earned the title Empowered Earthlings for their “display of unwavering enthusiasm” in the course of the event.

yCWYLT 2022 is an event held by UP Halcyon that centers on developing youth leadership in pair with climate awareness and action initiatives that are accessible for students. The event aims to become an effective partner of the Department of Education in advocating for higher quality education and academic excellence through lectures and workshops. The students are coached by Mr. Erickson Nosenas, SHS Supreme Student Council adviser.