In an emotional and crowded ceremony held this Monday at the Concordia Convention Center, the delivery of the Merit Award 2025took place. The distinction, promoted by the Deliberative Council, recognized the excellence of outstanding students from the secondary levels, including the Youth and Adult modalities (ESJA and EPJA) and Training Centers, coming from nearly 80 educational establishments of the Concordia Department.
The event was presided over by the Mayor Dr. Francisco Azcué and the Vice Mayor and President of the Deliberative Council, Lic. Magdalena Reta de Urquiza, who highlighted the value of effort in the education of young people. They were accompanied by numerous authorities, among them the Departmental Director of Schools, Prof. José Luis Ferrari; the Supervisor of Secondary Education for Youth and Adults, Prof. Cesar Pantano; the Municipal Secretary of Health, Dr. Diego Sauré; the Undersecretary of Education and Culture, Prof. Carlos Gatto; and councilors Dr. Mauricio Rey and Emmanuel Godoy.
A tradition of more than two decades
At the opening of the ceremony, Lic. Reta de Urquiza paid a well-deserved tribute to the origins of the distinction: "This award was created by this Deliberative Council through Ordinance No. 29,752 in the year 1997".
Likewise, the president of the Council made a special recognition to the author of said project, Professor Carlos Gatto, for having laid the foundations of an award that has been sustained for more than two decades.
Reta de Urquiza emphasized that merit is the translation ofsustained effort and unwavering dedication", whose immediate reward is the happiness of the goal achieved. The Vice Mayor underlined the role of camaraderie as an essential part of merit: "Sharing knowledge, having the generosity to help understand and to lend a hand in carrying out a task, is an inexhaustible source of that happiness that we celebrate today."
Finally, the official extended her "most sincere congratulations to the awarded young people, to their families, fundamental pillars of their education, teachers and to all educational institutions", concluding that it is a "pride, honor and enormous joy" for the Deliberative Council to present this recognition.
Azcué: “Effort is the only way to earn things”
Mayor Azcué began his speech by sending a "special greeting, all my respect and admiration" to the teachers, whom he described as essential protagonists. Dr. Azcué dedicated the most important greeting to the students, highlighting that young people "are the present and the future of Concordia".
The municipal leader stressed that the Merit Award is not "just another award" and defended the concept of merit as a fundamental value. "Here we are not rewarding the result, the grade or the best student for their marks, but something much greater: we are rewarding sacrifice, effort and discipline", emphasized the Mayor.
Dr. Azcué sent a direct message to the awardees: "Someone wanted to make us believe that merit was not important... And I have to tell you: that is not true. The only way to earn things is with effort, sacrifice and perseverance", reminding that authentic achievements "take time, take a lot of work".
Finally, he urged the awardees to transfer the commitment demonstrated in the classrooms to their role as citizens. "Being a citizen implies a civic duty that we must not evade. That indifference has often led to things not working well", he warned, asking the students to get involved and participate actively for the progress of the city.
"I congratulate you, keep going, dream big and go for it all. Everything is possible when one puts in effort and dedication", he concluded.
The presentation of the 2025 Merit Award reaffirms the commitment of Concordia to education and the fundamental values that build the future of the community.
Material Available: The photographic and film material of the ceremony is informed to be available through:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1HBOU3QIHQ&t=980s
Instagram: concejodeliberanteconcordia
The event was presided over by the Mayor Dr. Francisco Azcué and the Vice Mayor and President of the Deliberative Council, Lic. Magdalena Reta de Urquiza, who highlighted the value of effort in the education of young people. They were accompanied by numerous authorities, among them the Departmental Director of Schools, Prof. José Luis Ferrari; the Supervisor of Secondary Education for Youth and Adults, Prof. Cesar Pantano; the Municipal Secretary of Health, Dr. Diego Sauré; the Undersecretary of Education and Culture, Prof. Carlos Gatto; and councilors Dr. Mauricio Rey and Emmanuel Godoy.
A tradition of more than two decades
At the opening of the ceremony, Lic. Reta de Urquiza paid a well-deserved tribute to the origins of the distinction: "This award was created by this Deliberative Council through Ordinance No. 29,752 in the year 1997".
Likewise, the president of the Council made a special recognition to the author of said project, Professor Carlos Gatto, for having laid the foundations of an award that has been sustained for more than two decades.
Reta de Urquiza emphasized that merit is the translation ofsustained effort and unwavering dedication", whose immediate reward is the happiness of the goal achieved. The Vice Mayor underlined the role of camaraderie as an essential part of merit: "Sharing knowledge, having the generosity to help understand and to lend a hand in carrying out a task, is an inexhaustible source of that happiness that we celebrate today."
Finally, the official extended her "most sincere congratulations to the awarded young people, to their families, fundamental pillars of their education, teachers and to all educational institutions", concluding that it is a "pride, honor and enormous joy" for the Deliberative Council to present this recognition.
Azcué: “Effort is the only way to earn things”
Mayor Azcué began his speech by sending a "special greeting, all my respect and admiration" to the teachers, whom he described as essential protagonists. Dr. Azcué dedicated the most important greeting to the students, highlighting that young people "are the present and the future of Concordia".
The municipal leader stressed that the Merit Award is not "just another award" and defended the concept of merit as a fundamental value. "Here we are not rewarding the result, the grade or the best student for their marks, but something much greater: we are rewarding sacrifice, effort and discipline", emphasized the Mayor.
Dr. Azcué sent a direct message to the awardees: "Someone wanted to make us believe that merit was not important... And I have to tell you: that is not true. The only way to earn things is with effort, sacrifice and perseverance", reminding that authentic achievements "take time, take a lot of work".
Finally, he urged the awardees to transfer the commitment demonstrated in the classrooms to their role as citizens. "Being a citizen implies a civic duty that we must not evade. That indifference has often led to things not working well", he warned, asking the students to get involved and participate actively for the progress of the city.
"I congratulate you, keep going, dream big and go for it all. Everything is possible when one puts in effort and dedication", he concluded.
The presentation of the 2025 Merit Award reaffirms the commitment of Concordia to education and the fundamental values that build the future of the community.
Material Available: The photographic and film material of the ceremony is informed to be available through:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1HBOU3QIHQ&t=980s
Instagram: concejodeliberanteconcordia