“We are proud of the winners and their catchy and inspiring slogans encouraging girls to live lives to the fullest,” said Liu Chung-ching, director of the Ministry of Education's Department of Student Affairs and Special Education, at the presentation ceremony.
Selected from 3,404 submissions, the 24 winners were praised for their powerful creations limited to 14 Chinese characters. Representing the categories of elementary, junior high, senior and vocational high, and university, the students received award certificates and shared prize money of NT$60,000 (US$1,969).
Top honors went to Lin Yen-yu from Taichung Municipal Da Tung Elementary School, Yeh Tzu-yu of Hsinchu Municipal Chien Hua Junior High School, Chen Jui-chih from Fu-Hsin Trade and Arts School in New Taipei City and Su Ya-yi of Chienkuo Technology University in Changhua City.
Also attending the event was 19-year-old Ku Tsui-ping, a member of the indigenous Bunun tribe and a karate gold medalist in the women’s under-50 kilogram division at 2014 Asian Games.
Nantou County native Ku said the secret to her success is persistence. “Athletes devote tremendous efforts to achieving their goals. I have trained extremely hard since I was 12 to excel in my sport.”
According to Liu, champions such as Ku are role models for girls chasing their dreams. “She is an outstanding example of what can be achieved with the right encouragement and support,” he said.
Celebrated Oct. 11, Taiwan Girls’ Day was established last year by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and coincides with International Day of the Girl Child adopted by the U.N. three years ago. (DF-JSM)
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