Vice President receives Dominican students awarded the Academic Merit Award 2025

Santo Domingo.- The students awarded with the XI School Merit Award were received by the vice president Raquel Peña, at the National Palace, as part of the official agenda of their cultural visit to the country. This recognition, driven by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the Kingdom of Spain, distinguishes young people of Dominican nationality or origin, between 12 and 18 years old, who have excelled in their academic excellence, spirit of self-improvement and exemplary conduct in educational centers in Spain.

During the meeting, the vice president acknowledged the effort and talent of the awardees, whom she described as outstanding representatives of the diaspora in that country. She urged them to continue strengthening their training and to keep alive the ties with their country of origin.

The student delegation was accompanied by the ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the Kingdom of Spain, Tony Raful, who thanked the vice president for her continued support of the program and highlighted the positive impact of the award on Dominican youth abroad.

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In addition to the meeting with the vice president, the students were received by the mayor of the National District, Carolina Mejía, at the headquarters of the Santo Domingo City Council. The young people arrived in the country where they began their cultural visit by touring some of the main emblems of the city, such as the Monument to the Heroes of the Restoration and the Botanical Garden of the “Heart City”. The School Merit Award was created in 2008 by the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Spain, with the aim of promoting the educational and social integration of young Dominicans in that European nation, while strengthening their sense of belonging and their bond with the country. The award is backed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), the Ministry of Education (MINERD), the Ministry of Tourism, the Ministry of Women, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the Central Bank, INDOTEL, the Supreme Court of Justice, the Senate of the Republic, the Chamber of Deputies, the City Council of the National District, the INICIA Group, the Manuel García Arévalo Foundation and various cultural centers.