THE DEPARTMENT of Education lauded 304 students who finished the Microsoft Youth Ambassadors Program.

A hybrid graduation ceremony was conducted at the agency’s central office in Pasig City.

Spearheaded by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns – Youth Formation Division and in collaboration with Microsoft Philippines and Audentes Technologies Inc., the MYA aimed to shape and empower Filipino students who employ globally competitive skills and embody the ideals of being value-driven, career-oriented, culturally rooted, and socially responsible.

“We at the Department of Education acknowledge the importance of empowering our young leaders to adapt, compete, and make themselves employable and ready in the 21st century,” Assistant Secretary for Youth Affairs and Special Concerns Dexter Galban said.

“That is why we initiated Microsoft Youth Ambassadors Program in order to equip you with the necessary knowledge, tools, and skills at the same time I am hoping that you can take advantage of the technology which you can utilize not just in your classrooms but also in your respective organizations and wherever you may end up in the workplace,” he added.

The program started with over 2,000 registrants from all over the country but only 568 Junior and Senior High School applicants were selected. The students attended training sessions specifically on Microsoft 365 Fundamentals, LinkedIn Learning Digital Literacy Program, Professional Communication Skill Training, and Mentoring and Coaching via Microsoft Teams.

The students were challenged to deliver a Capstone project, an activity that encouraged them to step up and put their learning into action. They were grouped into their respective regions, fostering teamwork and camaraderie in delivering their outputs.

At the end of the project, only 304 MYAs were left. They attended the conferment ceremony at DepEd.

One of the highlights of the event was the awarding of MYA Program Best in Regional Capstone wherein Region III (1st place), Region VII (2nd place), and Region IV-A (3rd place).

Kwen Jirah Faelnar from Bacoor City was named top MYA of the year.