Claudia Gimeno Iniesta earned top honors as the first Baccalaureate student to win the national stage prize in the ninth edition of the school literature contest titled “Letter to the Spanish Soldier,” a program sponsored by the Ministry of Defense. The award was announced in a ceremony held this Friday at the Defense Sub-Delegation, where the Marine Corps Colonel Juan Bosco Montero Prado presided over the proceedings. The edition highlighted the voyages and strategic endeavors of historic explorers and military minds who contributed to Spain’s presence across both hemispheres, framing a narrative that looks back at the courage and perseverance that shaped a nation.
The competition welcomes participation from students in year 4 of the ESO program, as well as year 1 and 2 of the Baccalaureate, and from FP students and intermediate learners from study centers within the national region and Spanish centers abroad. In this ninth edition, nine schools from the province competed. The theme aimed to prompt reflection on the journeys undertaken by soldiers whose steadfastness and valor forged a legacy of knowledge that remains relevant today and advances science and understanding within Spain. [CITATION: Defense Sub-Delegation]
Claudia Gimeno Iniesta triumphed with a letter titled “Achieving social justice in the 16th century.” The first finalist was the 2nd year Baccalaureate student Alejandro DiLorenzo Berrozpe from Colegio CEU Jesús y María in Alicante, followed by finalists Mirian Garcia Nephew from the Alicante María Auxiliadora School Baccalaureate 1st year, and Mauro Fresneda Gontan, a 4th year ESO student from the Salesian School Juan XXIII in Alcoy. [CITATION: Competition organizers]
Officials, families, and school representatives attended the event, with jury members drawn from prominent voices in culture and education across the province. After diplomas and awards were presented, the winning student read the letter aloud to the audience, sharing the ideas that had earned the top prize. [CITATION: Jury statements]
The Deputy Defense Delegate offered congratulations to the winners and gratitude to all participants, schools, and the jury for their collaboration. He emphasized that effort, sacrifice, perseverance, will, and a lasting sense of purpose in reading are crucial to achieving life’s goals and contributing to personal growth and civic life. [CITATION: Deputy Defense Delegate remarks]