186 studes say Yes to Ateneo By Englebert A.

Villegas

Ateneo de Naga University - 186 out of 310 high school students from 32 schools around Bicol region said, in accordance with the evaluation result of College Open House (COH) 2012, that they will enroll in Ateneo next academic year 2012-2013. Conducted last 27 January, the COH aimed to introduce to the participants the Ateneo community, to prepare them for college and to inform them about the necessary adjustments. Ang theme nung Open House [ay] The Golden Knight of the Blue Realm wherein knights si mga students tapos ung blue realm ang Ateneo mismo, shared University Student Recruitment Office (USRO) Director Noel Amador.

One-of-a-Kind Program Sir Moi said that the preparations of USRO, an Ateneo office that assists high school seniors to college, started last September 2011. Schools in Naga were visited to notify them about the event while a week before the COH was the time spent in informing other secondary schools. This also served as a backgrounder on the overall profile of prospective partakers of COH. Unlike before, this 10th COH which commenced in 2002 changed the way it was conducted. One inspirational idea was the setting of Y Speak, a television program, wherein there were interactive productions, entertainment and informative discussions. A campus tour was held in the morning activity. Different colleges, departments and organizations took part in the programs with their own exhibits and presentations. There were 20 facilitating volunteers and 45 members of Ateneo Student Ambassadors. Various committees were also created program, food, logistics, secretariat, promotions, freebies and giveaways with Maria Josefa Almares as overall head. In the afternoon session, intermission numbers of Ateneo Dance Club, Ateneo Golden Cavalry, University Band and Choir, question and answer, games, raffle, awarding, movie presentation and talks were accomplished.

Discussion speakers were two students from Manila, one parent, a faculty member, guidance counselor and staff of Admissions and Aids Office This years batch was participative according to Sir Moi, as seen from the behavior and unanticipated questions from students during the event. Naging successful talaga iyong event. Nakikita naming inaabangan ang Open House may mga nagtatanong kung kelan kaya ginawa na itong regular affair. [Pinaplano nga naming] magkaroon ng isang career day for all senior high school students, a festival in one venue for one day, in cooperation with the City government, Department of Education and other universities pero balak pa lang naman, Sir Moi uttered. He also added that the very success of the event was the impact it caused to students, that it benefited all imparting learning, doing ones responsibility well and dealing with people.

Overall Upshot As an ender segment of the event, evaluation sheets were given to the participants who had casted a 4.3 rating (lowest), 5-score rating (highest assessment provided) and a 4.6 general mark. A senior student from University of Nueva Caceres, when asked about the program flow, said that the program was okay lang, but still undecided whether to enroll in Ateneo next semester. Depende sa course, he articulated. On one hand, Student Ambassador Loreine Balce expressed that one factor that might have affected the students ratings was the delayed arrival of the food while another ambassador said that COH 2012 was better than last year because more participants attended and more program innovations were featured. Even if the 500-student quota was not achieved, a happening which was only attained three years ago with 536 participants, Amador believed that the number of schools was more important. He then pronounced that the plan of USRO to have the 40-60 percent of the total participants next school year was reached. Kahit na isa lang iyong nag-attend sa isang school, pwede na niyang ipagkalat iyong nangyari tapos maka-encourage na mag-enrol sa Ateneo. Sulit ang nagastos na Php40, 000 [para sa event]na nagkasya man dahil sa creativity and support ng lahat, Sir Moi ended.