Meet Accenture’s Kumon Scholars for SY 2006-2007
Background. In October 2006, Accenture decided to reinvest in One Small Step Forward Foundation’s Kumon program for Libis Elementary School, this time sponsoring 10 additional scholars in addition to the previous year’s 40 scholars for a total of 50 awardees for 12 months October 2006 to September 2007. In simple ceremonies last November 6, 2006, Senior Executive and CSR-in-charge Nescel Asuncion kicked off the second year of Accenture’s involvement. The ten new Accenture scholars were presented to Nescel and she was given the opportunity to talk to the 40 current scholars. She also chatted with principal Seri Vargas, who opened the event. A math teacher, a Kumon parent and a Kumon kid gave glowing testimonials.
Accenture’s Scholars Count. Accenture currently has 44 scholars, with six additional slots still to be filled. 10 are in Grade 2, 19 in Grade 3, 4 in Grade 4, 8 in Grade 5, and 3 in Grade 6. 34 of the 44 have been Accenture scholars since the beginning, entering the program from October 2005 to February 2006. The other 10 came in last September 2006.
From November 2006 to April 2007, nine (9) Accenture scholars discontinued and were replaced. Discontinuance were due primarily to home relocations, and in a few cases, financial problems or loss of interest. From May to September 2007, another six (6) Accenture scholars dropped out. We are still in the process of screening candidates for appropriate replacements.
Honor Roll at Libis Elementary School. It is worthy to note that the Libis Elementary School Kumon Center had its very first Advanced Students Honor Roll (ASHR) ceremony last June 16, 2007. Ten of the 44 current Acccenture scholars were Bronze awardees, that is, they were doing math that was a year in advance of their school curriculum. In the same ceremony, Principal Seri Vargas encouraged the parents of the Kumon students to take advantage of the unique opportunity that One Small Step Forward Foundation and Accenture continued to provide. Center manager Victor Claravall hosted the event.
Accenture’s Bronze awardees included: from Grade 2, Marlon Aclon (B160), Mariel Baliza (B200), Gracelyn Marbella (C70), and Jude Sanchez (B170); from Grade 3, John Catacutan (D200), Elmer Gasper (D170), Reign Labuguen (D110), and Jason Mendoza (D200); and from Grade 5, Dehn Arandela (E170) and April Garcia (E190). Grade 2 Bronze awardees need to be at level B150 or higher. Grade 3 bronze awardees must have attained at least level C150. And Grade 5 bronze awardees should have reached E150 or higher.
The highlight of the ASHR was the awarding of the sole Gold Award to Mark Barilla. Mark was the first Libis Elementary School graduate – actually the first in all of District 3, Quezon City – to get accepted into Philippine Science High School. In his “valedictory” talk, he credited the Kumon program for sharpening his math skills, thus enabling him to pass the second screening, one of only 240, from a total applicant field of 17,500.
