By Karren Jay G. Asgar

Preciouse P. Talaban (left) and Collyn Maxie Rose Moscoso (right), Centralian winners in the 3rd Scranton Essay Contest.

Out of 280 entries from 16 partner schools across 6 Asian countries, two Centralians emerged victorious in the 3rd Scranton Essay Contest with the theme “What is your internal strength and power to overcome challenges in today’s world?” organized by the Scranton Women’s Leadership Center in South Korea.

Preciouse P. Talaban, a BSPKGE-4 student under the College of Engineering, won the said contest with her essay entitled “It’s Not Me, It’s Him,” which serves as a testimony on how God sustains her despite all the hardships she experienced. Talaban is a working student who juggles her time for work, studies, extracurricular activities, and responsibilities as a member of the The Navigators-CPU Chapter.

“The strength within me is not actually coming from me, but it’s coming from the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ,” she shared in an online interview. “First and foremost, I thank God for giving me the wisdom on what to write and for guiding me until submission. I want to express my gratitude to my parents and The Navigators-CPU Chapter, especially to Ate Algrace (PhilNavs Staff) for their support since day one. I want to thank my teachers as well from the Packaging Engineering Department for their constant reminder that attitude is more important than aptitude,” she added.

Collyn Maxie Rose Moscoso, a BS Biology-4 under the College of Arts and Sciences, also won in the said contest with her piece entitled “Embrace, Overcome, Empower,” which shows her journey of self-discovery and growth as a student leader trying to balance her academics and leadership roles at the same time. She stated, “My essay is influenced by gender norms and patriarchal structures; through my essay, I want to empower other girls and women to challenge these barriers so that they can be whoever they want to be and uplift others without the limits set by society.”

“I extend my gratitude to Sir Daryl Lutero, a faculty member of the Social Sciences Department in CAS, for his invaluable encouragement and guidance throughout my writing process. Additionally, I am grateful to CPU for providing me with this opportunity and to Scranton Women’s Leadership Center for hosting the contest. I also want to thank my loved ones for their support and belief in me. Finally, I am also grateful to the Province of Arts and Sciences Student Council for providing me with opportunities to grow as a leader and make a positive impact within my community,” she added.

On March 29, 2024, a total of 40 winners were selected throughout the evaluation process and recognized through the SWLC’s website. The winners will be selected as Scranton scholars for the year 2024 and will also receive an additional scholarship of US$500, which can be used for their school fees, books, housing, etc.

The online award ceremony is scheduled on April 26, 2024. The winning articles will be posted on the ‘Scranton Square’ tab of the SWLC’s website.