Two Negrosanon student leaders are this year’s awardees of the Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines. This was announced by the Order of the Knights of Rizal-Negros Oriental.
Niel Anthony Lajot, a senior at Silliman University College of Mass Communication, was named Most Outstanding Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines; while Amzelle Las Piñas, a senior at St. Paul University-Dumaguete College of Business & Information Technology, was named as one of the Top 10 students.
The 32nd Jose Rizal Model Students of the Philippines, initiated by the Knights of Rizal, is a premier search for students who have exemplified academic excellence, leadership, and community involvement.
Lajot is president of the Kapunungan sa mga Mass Communicators. He was editor-in-chief of the Weekly Sillimanian in 2020, and the Masscom representative in the SU Student Government in 2019 where he founded the SU League of Hosts. He was named Freshman Student of the Year in 2019, and Sophomore Student of the Year in 2020.
Las Piñas is active in religious and campus events. She was Paulinian Ambassador of Goodwill in 2017, and Outstanding Delegate in the 2018 National YMCA Student Congress in Baguio City. She was also head of Corps of Sponsors of the ROTC Unit , president of the Junior PH Institute of Accountants Negros Oriental Federation, leader of the Paulinian Supreme Student Government, captain of the Paulinian Debating Society, volunteer in the SPUD Community Extension Program, writer of The Paulinian student paper, and delegate to the Ayala Young Leaders Congress.
Both Jose Rizal awardees were mentored by Rizal Life, Works & Writings professors Renante Lingcong at Silliman University and Penn Larena at St. Paul University, who are also officers of the Knights of Rizal. (PR)
