by Ian S. Embradura, OPI

Lynrose Jane D. Genon, the 2015 Institute Leadership Awardee and CASS Valedictorian is one of this year’s Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines (TOSP). She is the first alumna from MSU-IIT to receive this award.
Out of 84 nominees from all over the Philippines, the TOSP National Committee chose 30 National Finalists including Genon who later emerged as one of six finalists from Mindanao.
On July 30, 2015, during the recognition of the 30 finalists held at the Heroes Hall in Malacanang Palace, the ten outstanding students were announced and one of them was Genon. She was accompanied to Malacanang Palace by CASS Dean Dr. Marie Joy D. Banawa who also represented MSU-IIT.

Genon finished her a Bachelor of Arts in English degree magna cum laude and was one of the recipients of the Best Thesis award. The other academic distinctions she received were: outstanding student officer as an AB English Organization Mayor, 2013-2014, the FEMSUSCO Executive Secretary, 2014-2015, as an elected community youth leader of the Sangguniang Kabataan in Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte, and as a proponent of various student extension activities.
Genon spent most of her weekends in teaching out-of-school youth in her hometown and volunteering in Alternative Learning System (ALS). For her, community service is “an act of love and not of responsibility”.

In an interview, she told Gazette, it is about playing by the rules that she was able to manage a balanced life as a student.
“The game has three rules: pay attention, believe that you can do it, and know your limits,” she says.
As the first IITian to make it as one of this year’s TOSP awardees, she said she is “very honored of the great opportunity to bring the banner of my alma mater at the TOSP.”
Behind the annual search for the Ten Outstanding Student of the Philippines is Jose S. Concepcion, Jr., chairman of the RFM Foundation and TOSP National Executive Committee. The TOSP was launched on the 100th birthday of National Hero Dr. Jose Rizal.
Concepcion considers Rizal as the embodiment of a student who not only excels academically, but one who also contributes to society and to those in need.
Other 2015 TOSP awardees are: Khenn Arquiza (Western Mindanao State University)
Ma. Nerissa Nicolas (Dr. Yangas Colleges Inc.); Adriel Gamier Sanches (University of San Jose Recoletos); Gregg Louise Tolentino (De La Salle University Manila); Ryan Carl Yu (Ateneo de Manila University); Apolinario Bagano Jr. (Benguet State University); Maria Stephanie Gana (Far Eastern University); Raphael Aaron Letaba (University of the Philippines); and, Fharnieza Mohammad (Western Mindanao State University).
Topics : Ten Outstanding Students of the Philippines achievements