De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde (DLS-CSB) awarded Olympic gold medalist and Business Management (BS-BM) student Hidilyn Diaz the Benilde Medallion, the highest honors given by the College, today, Feb. 9. The College also announced a new scholarship program for national athletes named after her.
The event took place at the Benilde Sports and Dormitory Complex and was publicized through a livestream. The Benilde administration, along with the Center for Sports Development (CSD), led the honors ceremony for the Benildean-Olympian Diaz.
The Benilde Medallion, according to the College’s President Br. Edmundo “Dodo” Fernandez, FSC, is “the highest expression of institutional recognition and appreciation of individuals or institutions for their extraordinary achievements and contributions” and the symbol of the Benildean identity of doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.
Diaz, the first Olympic gold medalist of the Philippines, is also the first to receive the highest honors given by the College.
The Benilde Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship
Br. Dodo also announced the launching of the Benilde Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship for national athletes, in honor of Diaz’s contribution to Philippine sports. The College will implement the scholarship program in the next academic year, A.Y. 2022-2023, starting with five national athletes that will be selected by a committee. Diaz was also invited to take part in the screening committee.
Diaz expressed her gratitude to the people who helped her in Benilde. “Thank you so much po sa ibinigay niyong medallion na ako po pala ‘yung kauna-unahan na nabiyan n’yo, tapos ang pinakamasaya po ako siguro dahil sa ibibigay na scholarship sa mga national athletes.”
Diaz concluded her speech and shared, “Mahirap maging estudyante at Olympian, naging posible kasi nasa Benilde po ako. Naging extraordinary ang pakapanalo ko sa Olympics dahil Benildean ako.”
The ceremony event concluded with a tribute video composed of messages from personnel, faculty, and students from the CSD and the Career Development Program.
