The Rotary Club of Makati Salcedo (RCMS) successfully concluded its search for this year’s batch of Southville Foreign University scholars last Oct. 4, 2008 at the Monarch Hall, Southville Foreign University, BF Homes International, Las Piñas City.  The Global Dimensions Olympiad is an annual event sponsored by RCMS to award scholarships to bright high school students around the country through friendly team competitions.

Out of the 90 schools and over eight hundred students who took the nationwide preliminary examinations, eight school teams made it to the semi-finals.  They were Makati Science High School, La Immaculada Concepcion School, Sen. Renato Cayetano High School, Don Carlo Cavina School, St. Mary’s College – Baliuag, Shekinah Christian Training Center, St. Mary’s Academy – Pasay and Southville International School and Colleges.  This year’s team composition was increased from the usual 6 students to 10 per team, thus increasing the number of potential scholars.

With only 1 to 2 points separating the teams, the easy round of the semi-finals proved to be a close fight.  The competition got even more exciting as it progressed to the moderate and difficult rounds.  At the end of the semi-finals, Makati Science High School secured the first seat for the finals.  La Immaculada Concepcion and St. Mary’s College - Baliuag went through a tie-breaker to get the second seat, which was eventually secured by La Immaculada for the final face-off with Makati Science.

The final round was even more dramatic.  With only one question worth 5 points left and La Immaculada Concepcion trailing Makati Science by four points, a wrong answer from Makati Science and a correct answer from La Immaculada will swing the first place in the latter’s favor.  But, both failed to answer the last question making Makati Science High School the back-to-back champion of the Olympiad.

All participants were called on stage and awarded a certificate each.  The champion Makati Science received 100% scholarship for each team member plus a trophy and a brand new laptop computer for the school.  First runner-up La Immaculada received 90% scholarship plus a trophy and a brand new HP printer for their school.  Second runner-up St Mary’s Acedmy - Baliuag received 80% scholarship and a trophy.

Fourth and fifth placers Sen. R. Cayetano High and St. Mary’s Academy - Pasay both received 70% scholarship.  The sixth to eighth places were bagged by Don Carlo Cavina School, Shekinah Christian Learning Center and Southville International School, respectively, where team members received 60% scholarship each.  All in all, the contest awarded scholarships to 80 students.