10 students get scholarship grants in of UNO-R’s Media Expo

BACOLOD City – Ten students received scholarship grants after they won in the Media Expo 2020 at the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos (UNO-R) here on February 28.

They were among the 42 students from various schools in Negros Occidental who joined the event dubbed “Looking at the Future…Now,” and competed in four categories – newswriting, radio announcing, spoken words poetry, and advocacy challenge.

The event was spearheaded by the Mass Communication (Mass Comm) Department under the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Mass Comm Alumni Association in cooperation with the Office of Bacolod Congressman Greg Gasataya and the Bacolod Alpha Phi Omega Foundation University Inc.

It was one of the highlights of the three-day Mass Comm Days of the university led by Dr. Nieves H. Pepito, program head of Mass Comm Department, and Mass Comm Alumni Association president Glazyl Masculino with the support of college dean Dr. Annabee Magbanua-Claur, university president Rev. Fr. Don H. Besana, OAR and Dr. Carlos Eduardo Legaspi Jr., vice president for external affairs.

Winners of the newswriting competition were Kaila Del Peña of Murcia National High School who won first place, followed by Meluny Bregabiel of Ramon Torres National High School, Diana Caceres of Bacolod City National High School, Christel Babe Gelle of Mansilingan Agro-Industrial High School, and Theresa Mae Dulman of Bacolod City National High School.They all received cash prizes and five scholarship grants.

For radio announcing competition, Kit Martin De Paula of UNO-R was hailed as champion, followed by Trisha Cabanillas of UNO-R, Trixia Jean Chavez of Bacolod City National High School, and Melfie Salamania. They all received cash prizes but only the top three winners got scholarship grants.

For spoken words poetry contest, Cathy Villaruz of Ramon Torres National High School and Antonio Caporas of Domingo Lacson National High School won. They also received cash prizes and two scholarship grants.

Winners in the advocacy challenge were Charisse Ann Lumanog and Beatrice Anne Dingcong of Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos, Clarrise Shane Malan, Stephanie Ongalon, and William John Doctolero of Domingo Lacson National High School, and Raidar Lasala of Dr. Vicente F. Gustilo Memorial National High School. They all received cash prizes.

Prior to the contest proper, the participants attended a lecture series presented by Ms. Yasmin Pascual-Dormido, senior reporter of ABS-CBN, and Mr. Serafin Plotria, station manager of iFM Bacolod, who are also part-time faculty teachers at the university, and Mr. Jan Villa, a freelance web designer.

Gasataya, who offered the scholarship grants, said that he is hoping that it will really help the students achieve their goals through proper education.

The Media Expo 2020 is part of the marketing strategy of the university to introduce the Mass Comm course to senior high school students.

It’s also a way to encourage the students to take up the said course and get enrolled in the university.