Dominican retail company Centro Cuesta Nacional has recognised 331 children of its employees for outstanding academic achievement at an awards ceremony in Santo Domingo.
The event marked the 22nd annual edition of the Excelencia Académica CCN program, an initiative that honours students who demonstrated exceptional academic performance over the past school year.
Centro Cuesta Nacional, one of the primary retail conglomerates in the Dominican Republic, established the awards scheme more than two decades ago to promote educational values and support employee families. Since its launch, the program has recognized more than 4,000 primary and secondary students across the country.
The ceremony took place at the Auditorio Monseñor Amancio Escapa inside the Casa San Pablo conference centre in Santo Domingo. Proceedings opened with an inspirational reflection referencing the athletic spirit shown during the recent Santo Domingo 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Addressing the audience, Amalia Vega, Vice President of Corporate Communication and Institutional Relations at CCN, drew parallels between sports achievements and academic effort. She noted that Dominican athletes had spent days giving their all to reach historic podiums, proving that excellence stems from discipline, perseverance, and passion.
Vega told attendees that the ceremony represented a podium of its own for the young scholars. She emphasized that excellence is not only rewarded on the running track or in the swimming pool, but also inside the classroom.
Higher education opportunities and scholarship support
The academic excellence initiative serves as a gateway to further educational opportunities backed by the corporation. Several past award recipients have gone on to join the CCN University Scholarships program, extending financial and institutional backing into higher education.
Erick Disla, a forensic computing student and current CCN university scholarship recipient, shared how the high school award shaped his academic journey. Disla explained that receiving the accolade while still in school inspired him to trust his abilities and maintain a strong work ethic.
Disla added that obtaining a university education through the scholarship program validated the effort he put into his studies. He described the recognition as a life-changing experience that encourages young people to continue pursuing ambitious goals.
Community musical performance closes ceremony
Musical entertainment for the evening was provided by the Fundación Vive en Armonía a Través de las Artes, known as Fundarmoniartes, alongside its Orquesta Experimental Tuntun Pá.
Fundarmoniartes is a sociocultural project that has operated in vulnerable Dominican communities since 2007, using music as a tool to create opportunities for children and youth. During the ceremony, young musicians performed tropical rhythms using alternative instruments to conclude the event.
