Stories of four President’s Award winners inspire people
Mayor Chu today presented the President’s awards to four New Taipei students – Ouyang Cenliang, Liao Xinping, Song Xiuhong, and Hu Peishan. Born with no silver spoons in their mouths, the four students share the characteristics of undaunted perseverance and unlimited effort. Chu praised they are the inspiration to all students and looked forward to their work in the future.
Ouyang Cenliang is a seventh grader in Yixue Junior High School. Though suffering from Glanzmann Thrombasthenia, an extremely rare bleeding disorder, the seventh grader is never deterred to continue her school work and often participates in charity shows after school to help other children with rare diseases. In addition to President’s award for this year, she also won the New Taipei Ten Braves award last year. Saying she was happy to meet with Mayor Chu again, Ouyang gave her flute performing of “Spanish Dances” at the ceremony and won great applause.
Mayor Chu said he had met all four President’s award winners before – Liao also won the New Taipei Ten Braves award in 2010 and Hu won the Filial Piety Model award last year. He said they have earned the acknowledgement from the nation for their extraordinary efforts. Some overcame their physical disabilities and some had to face the challenge of their living environments. However, none of them gave in to their difficulties and instead they continued thriving in their lives.
Song Xiuhong, a sixth grader in Xinxing Elementary School with Cerebral palsy and many other disabilities, is the child who, Chu said, never gives in. Song aspires to be like Nick Vujicic, who inspires a lot of people by getting ahead in life with his positive attitude despite his seemingly overwhelming physical disabilities. He received his prize of a tablet computer from Chu at the ceremony.
Liao Xinping, who has always been wanting a smart phone, finally got his wish granted today. Despite his congenital hearing disability, he entered the honor classes of Buqian Elementary School and later honor math and science classes of Jiangcui Junior High School. He also won the gold medal of International Mathematical Olympiad in 2008. He is going to attend Jianguo High School after this summer.
Hu Peishan, a fourth grader in Tienshen Elementary School, lives in a single-parent family and takes care of her ailing mother. Despite her harsh living environment, she studied hard and excelled in school. Concerned that poor people often lose in litigation for their lack of money, she aspires to be a lawyer in the future to re-contribute to her society. She and Ouyang Cenliang both received the prize of 8000 NTD gift certificate from Mayor Chu at the ceremony.