The 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 – 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 (𝗨𝗦𝗲𝗣 𝗖𝗔𝗘𝗰) through the 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗼-𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗔𝗻𝗮𝗹𝘆𝘁𝗶𝗰𝘀 𝗖𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 (𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗖) 𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼, officially launched the 𝘿𝙊𝙎𝙏-𝙋𝘾𝘼𝘼𝙍𝙍𝘿 𝙔𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙝 𝙎𝙘𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙋𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙢 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙍𝙚𝙜𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙨 (𝙈𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙖𝙤) through its Opening Ceremony held on 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟮, 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲, 𝗨𝗦𝗲𝗣 𝗢𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗿𝗼 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘀.

The event was graced by the University President Dr. Bonifacio G. Gabales, Jr., who delivered an inspiring message highlighting the vital role of young aspiring scientists in advancing sustainable development across Mindanao. The participants were also warmly welcomed by CAEc Associate Dean Dr. Ivee V. Fuerzas, who delivered the opening remarks.

This ceremony marked the beginning of Week 1 of the program, welcoming twenty (20) senior high school students from the Philippine Science High School (PSHS) Caraga Region Campus, Northern Mindanao Campus, and SOCCSKSARGEN Region Campus. These students are embarking on a meaningful journey to explore science, technology, research, and innovation within the Agriculture, Aquatic, and Natural Resources (AANR) sector.

The activity brought together the 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗢𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗘𝘅𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗗𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰𝘀 (𝗖𝗔𝗘𝗰), 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗖 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼 𝗔𝗴𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲, 𝗔𝗾𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝘂𝗺 (𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗖), highlighting a shared commitment to nurturing young minds and strengthening youth participation in science, technology, and innovation.

In his message, the University President emphasized that the nation’s future scientists, researchers, innovators, engineers, economists, environmental stewards, and agricultural leaders were among the students present in the program. He encouraged the participants to maximize this opportunity by learning from mentors, engaging with communities, asking meaningful questions, challenging existing ideas, and developing solutions that may contribute to future discoveries and innovations.

He further emphasized that the 𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗣𝗖𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗗 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺 represents more than an academic activity— it is an investment in empowering the next generation through meaningful exposure to research, innovation, and real-world applications of science and technology. Through this initiative, students are encouraged to cultivate curiosity, strengthen their passion for learning, and recognize their potential role in advancing sustainable development and community transformation.

The opening ceremony successfully laid the foundation for upcoming program activities, including mentoring sessions, research and development immersion, and collaborative learning experiences designed to provide students with deeper insights into STEM pathways and opportunities in the AANR sector.

The program is spearheaded by Atty. Karlo Martin C. Caramugan, EnP, together with the dedicated project team composed of Rizamae S. Palen (Project Staff), Clea Joyce B. Binang (Project Technical Aide VI), and Dave S. Roblis (Project Technical Aide V), whose commitment continues to make this initiative possible.

With the collective efforts of 𝗨𝗦𝗲𝗣, 𝗖𝗔𝗘𝗰, 𝗦𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗔𝗖 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗼, 𝗦𝗠𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗖, 𝗗𝗢𝗦𝗧-𝗣𝗖𝗔𝗔𝗥𝗥𝗗, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀, 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀, the program continues to foster a generation of young innovators and future leaders who will contribute to scientific advancement, sustainable development, and meaningful transformation in Mindanao and beyond.