Legacy builders: What the DOST-SEI hopes the YES awardees will be

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Every year, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Insitute (DOST) recognizes outstanding young Filipino minds in the Youth Excellence in Science (YES) Awards. 

Conferred with YES medals, this recognition signifies DOST’s high regard for excellence in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM).  This also serves as their badge of honor as their generation’s emerging STEM leaders and advocates.  

For over seventeen years, SEI’s aspiration has been clear: to build generations of learners who will champion the pursuit of scientific excellence in the country. This is exactly what the YES medals stand for: a symbol of inspiration to achieve the Filipino youth’s great potential and dreams. 

DOST-SEI Director Jayeel S. Cornelio delivers an inspiring message to the YES medalists during the awarding ceremony at the 2024 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration in Northern Mindanao. 

In his speech, DOST-SEI Director Jayeel S. Cornelio expressed this same aspiration, “Through this event, we hope to build the next generation of scientists who are committed to the welfare of the nation... While you are winning medals around the world, remember to serve this nation to show the world that the Philippines can be great again.”  

Furthermore, he emphasized that more than intellectual excellence, the Filipino youth should put value in their virtue and moral excellence. For him, “Intelligence is useless if not used beyond one’s gain and self-recognition. Instead, intelligence is more meaningful if used to make a difference.” 

Expanding Community 

In 2024, a record-feat of 2,504 young Filipino geniuses from various regions in the country were conferred the YES medals. This marks an impressive 18.45% increase from 2023’s record of 2,115 awardees. This is the only the second time that there are more than 2,000 recipients since the recognition rights began in 2007.  

Given this number, for the first time, DOST-SEI hosted three successive awarding ceremonies to recognize and celebrate the Filipino youth’s great feat in the international STEM scene. The ceremonies were conducted in Tacloban (Region VIII), Benguet (Region II), and Cagayan de Oro (Region X) in June, August, and November 2024, respectively.  

YES Awardees from Eastern Visayas [top], Cordillera Administrative Region [center], and Northern Mindanao [bottom] pose for a photo as they receive their medals during the awarding ceremonies conducted in the cities of Tacloban, Baguio, and Cagayan de Oro, respectively. 

Joining the celebration were the awardees’ parents and guardians, members of the science community. the academe, and the Institute’s valued partners from local STEM competitions. 

The annual celebration of the YES Awards forwards one vision: to call the Filipino youth to serve the nation through science and technology. It emphasizes public service that goes beyond mere recognition and moves people to action. More than this, the YES medals are the recipient’s lasting reminder of humility before excellence.  

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