Ateneo de Davao University’s best and brightest students gathered at the Finster Auditorium yesterday for the Gawad Awards. Photo by Christine Joice Cudis.

The University recognized the academic achievements of students from different divisions in ‘GAWAD 2014: Gabi ng Parangal’ held at the Finster Auditorium last Wednesday, September 17, with the theme “Academic Excellence for Social Transformation”.

The event was attended by school administrators, including the University President, Fr. Joel E. Tabora, S.J, the University Academic Vice President, Fr. Gabriel Jose T. Gonzalez, S.J., University Honors and Awards Committee Ex Officio Head Atty. Edgar Pascua II, Graduate Committee Head Mr. Lunar Fayloga, school deans, and the recognized students and parents.

Hon. Ana Theresia “Risa” Hontiveros-Baraquel, the National Chair of the Akbayan Partylist and an alumna of the Ateneo de Manila University, was invited as the guest speaker for the convocation ceremony.

“It is not just academic excellence for the honor which will be read out this afternoon and in which you, your parents and teachers will take justifiable pride, but excellence and honor in the service of something larger than ourselves–changing for the better of this society,” Hon. Hontiveros-Baraquel said as she encouraged the academic achievers to be catalysts of social transformation.

GAWAD 2014 slightly differed from past recognition activities because this year, the University not only recognized the students who had the highest QPI/WPA, but also students who belonged in the dean’s list of their respective divisions for the past school year.

“Through the GAWAD Reading of Honors, the University gives rightful recognition to our students who strive for academic excellence, the primary value that the University holds very dear,” Fr. Gonzales said.

Fr. Tabora also left a message for the students to ponder on as he ended the convocation ceremonies.

“We recognize you, so that you may attain this ability to discern the disjoint between what is and what ought to be, so that you may be freely a part of a force of transformation and change, and so that you may not simply be vain Ateneans, ‘yabang’ Ateneans, but leaders for change,” the University President said.