Benilde fetes Hidilyn Diaz with special award, names scholarship for nat'l athletes after Olympic gold medalist

The De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde conferred a special award to Hidilyn Diaz in recognition of her historic gold medal finish in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Diaz, who is pursuing a business management degree at CSB, received The Benilde Medallion in a ceremony on Wednesday.

According to CSB president Br. Edmundo Fernandez FSC, The Benilde Medallion is "the highest expression of institutional recognition and appreciation of individuals or institutions for their extraordinary achievements and contributions."

Diaz is the first recipient of the said award, which also symbolizes the Benildean identity of doing ordinary things extraordinarily well.

DLS-CSB awarded The Benilde Medallion to Hidilyn Diaz in recognition of her historic achievement. @gmasportsph @gmanews pic.twitter.com/g636OPn18f

— JK Carandang (@jk_carandang) February 9, 2022

"Kasama ko ang Benilde sa journey ko towards sa gold medal," said the star weightlifter. "Thank you so much na kahit nag-stop ako sa school, tinanggap n'yo pa rin po ako na ipagpatuloy kahit sa digital learning at ang dami kong natutunan while preparing for Olympics."

["Benilde is part of my journey towards the gold medal. Thank you so much because even though I had to stop schooling, you still welcomed me and allowed me to continue my studies even by digital means. I learned a lot while preparing for the Olympics."]

"Mahirap maging estudyante at Olympian pero naging posible kasi nasa Benilde ako," she added. "Naging extraordinary ang pagkapanalo ko sa Olympics dahil Benildean ako."

["It's hard to be a student and Olympian but it was possible because I am in Benilde. My win was extraordinary because I am a Benildean."]

Diaz received a scholarship at CSB in 2017 but she filed for a leave of absence in 2018 to focus on her Tokyo Olympics buildup. She enrolled again following the postponement of the quadrennial conclave.

Meanwhile, CSB will also launch a new scholarship program named after Diaz— the Benilde Hidilyn Diaz Scholarship for Athletes.

The scholarship will be given starting next school year to five national athletes who will apply to CSB. Diaz will have a say about the recipients as she herself will be invited for the screening for the said scholarship.

"You are very special to us in Benilde as you represent our commitment to help athletes ensure that they get a good education," Fernandez said.

Diaz said is looking forward to the said program.

"Pinakamasaya po ako siguro dahil sa ibibigay na scholarship para sa national athletes," she said. "Malaking bagay po 'yun sa'min kasi nga, hindi kami parating atleta. Kailangan po kaming mag-aral at sa Benilde ang dami kong natutunan."

["I am the happiest perhaps because of the scholarship for national athletes. It is a big thing for us because we are not athletes forever. We need to study and in Benilde, I've learned a lot."]

Alongside her training, Diaz is currently enrolled in the college and is expected to finish in the next three to four terms, or around one school year.

—MGP, GMA News