The Convention Center was the epicenter of the Merit Award 2025, a celebration that brought together directors, teachers, students, and families from 90 educational institutions of primary and special education in the department. The ceremony, organized by the Deliberative Council, reaffirmed the administration's commitment to excellence and civic values.
The distinction, established by Ordinance No. 29,752 since 1997, recognized students who stand out for their effort and dedication, as well as their camaraderie and solidarity.
The event was led by the highest authorities: the Municipal President, Dr. Francisco Azcué, and the Vice Mayor and President of the Deliberative Council, Lic. Magdalena Reta de Urquiza. The protocol ceremony was also attended by council members Emmanuel Godoy and Dr. Mauricio Rey, along with the Municipal Undersecretary of Education and Culture, Prof. Carlos Gatto.
Reta de Urquiza: “Merit is a remarkable value, due to the effort and dedication it implies”
The Vice Mayor Lic. Magdalena Reta de Urquiza opened the round of speeches, expressing her "profound satisfaction" for the massive participation.
"I am very happy that we have here 90 educational institutions who have chosen their primary representatives to receive this Merit Award", she noted. For the Council, she emphasized, "merit means effort and dedication".
Reta de Urquiza focused her message on the autonomy that education provides: "Education implies freedom, the freedom to be able to choose, because it gives the possibility of knowing different options. It implies moving away from dependency... and being able to choose the option we believe is most convenient".
And she concluded with a powerful metaphor, urging students to demand educational quality: "Because education gives us wings, it allows us to fly, it allows us to be free. We must demand that our schools give us all the education possible... so that tomorrow you can fly and spread your own wings".
Azcué: The call for Cultural Transformation
The Mayor Dr. Francisco Azcué defined the awarded youth as "the present and the future of Concordia", framing the award within his goal of "getting our city back on its feet". "Undoubtedly, we must carry out an institutional transformation, undoubtedly we must carry out a structural transformation of our city, but the most complex transformation we must carry out and the most important one is a cultural transformation", emphasized Azcué, ensuring that the most valuable capital is its citizens.
After thanking the educators for their "noble task", the leader delved into the values of merit: "To me merit is a word that I love... It has to do with effort, but it also has to do with discipline, it has to do with responsibility".
Azcué was categorical when redefining social expectations: "Today what we have to tell children is: everything is achieved with effort, everything is achieved with sacrifice... That is what actually works", he stated, rejecting the idea that success is achieved without work.
The Mayor highlighted that the award does not only focus on academic performance: "The highest GPA is not always rewarded, but the one who made the most effort is... and, above all, that student who, in addition to effort and sacrifice, had a supportive conduct, had a humane conduct with their peers"".
Azcué concluded with a strong call for civic commitment: "Being a citizen entails a civic duty, a responsibility that we all must fulfill. It is not a good idea to evade being a committed citizen".
The day culminated with the institutional recognition of the young people who, with their effort and values, represent the path toward the development of Concordia.
The Deliberative Council of Concordia extends a sincere recognition to all the students awarded this Monday, November 3rd, reaffirming its commitment to continue rewarding dedication as an essential engine to build a better future for them and for the city.
The distinction, established by Ordinance No. 29,752 since 1997, recognized students who stand out for their effort and dedication, as well as their camaraderie and solidarity.
The event was led by the highest authorities: the Municipal President, Dr. Francisco Azcué, and the Vice Mayor and President of the Deliberative Council, Lic. Magdalena Reta de Urquiza. The protocol ceremony was also attended by council members Emmanuel Godoy and Dr. Mauricio Rey, along with the Municipal Undersecretary of Education and Culture, Prof. Carlos Gatto.
Reta de Urquiza: “Merit is a remarkable value, due to the effort and dedication it implies”
The Vice Mayor Lic. Magdalena Reta de Urquiza opened the round of speeches, expressing her "profound satisfaction" for the massive participation.
"I am very happy that we have here 90 educational institutions who have chosen their primary representatives to receive this Merit Award", she noted. For the Council, she emphasized, "merit means effort and dedication".
Reta de Urquiza focused her message on the autonomy that education provides: "Education implies freedom, the freedom to be able to choose, because it gives the possibility of knowing different options. It implies moving away from dependency... and being able to choose the option we believe is most convenient".
And she concluded with a powerful metaphor, urging students to demand educational quality: "Because education gives us wings, it allows us to fly, it allows us to be free. We must demand that our schools give us all the education possible... so that tomorrow you can fly and spread your own wings".
Azcué: The call for Cultural Transformation
The Mayor Dr. Francisco Azcué defined the awarded youth as "the present and the future of Concordia", framing the award within his goal of "getting our city back on its feet". "Undoubtedly, we must carry out an institutional transformation, undoubtedly we must carry out a structural transformation of our city, but the most complex transformation we must carry out and the most important one is a cultural transformation", emphasized Azcué, ensuring that the most valuable capital is its citizens.
After thanking the educators for their "noble task", the leader delved into the values of merit: "To me merit is a word that I love... It has to do with effort, but it also has to do with discipline, it has to do with responsibility".
Azcué was categorical when redefining social expectations: "Today what we have to tell children is: everything is achieved with effort, everything is achieved with sacrifice... That is what actually works", he stated, rejecting the idea that success is achieved without work.
The Mayor highlighted that the award does not only focus on academic performance: "The highest GPA is not always rewarded, but the one who made the most effort is... and, above all, that student who, in addition to effort and sacrifice, had a supportive conduct, had a humane conduct with their peers"".
Azcué concluded with a strong call for civic commitment: "Being a citizen entails a civic duty, a responsibility that we all must fulfill. It is not a good idea to evade being a committed citizen".
The day culminated with the institutional recognition of the young people who, with their effort and values, represent the path toward the development of Concordia.
The Deliberative Council of Concordia extends a sincere recognition to all the students awarded this Monday, November 3rd, reaffirming its commitment to continue rewarding dedication as an essential engine to build a better future for them and for the city.