Candaza, Sahagun give Hopwood 2 valedictorians

Hopwood Junior High School made academic history yesterday with its very first two valedictorians, Joy Aira Candaza and Ageline Sahagun.

Both were also valedictorians during their elementary years. Candaza was the top student for Dandan Elementary School and Sahagun headed her graduating class at Garapan Elementary School.

Edu Mari Banaag was honored with the Salutatorian award and was also conferred the Commissioner of Education Academic Excellence Award.

Candaza, 15, wants to be an accountant in the future. Sahagun, 14, wants to take up Business Management.

“There’s more scholars this year, we ended up having a tie for valedictorian. I have goose bumps,” said Board of Education chairwoman Lucia Blanco Maratita when she announced the valedictorian.

In her speech, Sahagun said: “I have made many mistakes but that didn’t stop me, because I learned from them, and it made me a better person. I have many dreams, some succeeded, others did not. But our graduation theme quote, ‘If you can imagine it, you can achieve it, if you can dream it, you can become it.”

Candaza, on the other hand, was profuse with her thanks. “This is very memorable day where we can look forward to the next big phase of our lives: high school. I want to thank my friends and schoolmates for showing their kindness. And my parents, I love you both!”

Candaza’s parents, Josephine and Arnel, were very happy and excited with the success of their daughter. “We can’t express our happiness. Even our family in the Philippines are very proud of her,” said Arnel.

“We really didn’t expect this. There are a lot of students and parents here today, and we’re very proud that our daughter is top 1. She is very kind, hard working, every night she did her homework. She joined the Mathcounts,” he added.

Candaza’s father is a cook, and her mother is a waitress. Both work in a Japanese restaurant in Garapan called Len Len.

Sahagun’s parents, Yolanda and Robensio, were equally proud of their daughter. “We are glad that it is her second time to be awarded as the valedictorian. She is the best in Math and Science,” said Yolanda.

Yolanda works as a sales representative, while Robensio is a construction worker.

The two honor students will be going to Marianas High School next school year.

The Leadership Award was given to Deveney Dela Cruz.

The top 10 awardees from highest to lowest order are Joy Aira Candaza, Ageline Sahagun, Edu Mari Banaag, Lallaine Guiao, 1st honorable Salvi Dioma Villanueva, Genevieve Alexa Gottwald; 2nd honorable mention Tiannah Dela Cruz Diaz, Grace Enriquez, Rachel Renee Cabrera, Lyrette Maei Lacsina, Kimberly Vitug, Mark Christopher Echaure, and Deveney Dela Cruz.