SANTO DOMINGO.- In an event filled with emotion, enthusiasm, and pride, the National Institute of Physical Education celebrated this Friday the “Professor Virgilio Travieso Soto Excellence Gala,” a ceremony in which 41 personalities dedicated to transforming lives through physical education and school sports were recognized and honored.
The multiple tribute, held at the ECI-INFOTEP Institutional Corporate Building, was led by the executive director of INEFI, Alberto Rodríguez Mella, who with great pride and enthusiasm presented the awards to veteran and young teachers who served in various areas of physical education and sports in the country’s educational centers.
Rodríguez Mella awarded the categories of “entrepreneurship”, “consistency, perseverance and dedication”, “lifelong teacher” and a special mention received by professor Franklin Rancier, a former athlete and sports leader, who made great contributions to the development of sports in the country.
“In this event, we recognize the exceptional work of the teachers who, throughout their careers, have dedicated part of their lives to the education and integral development of students,” highlighted Rodríguez Mella.
The incumbent of INEFI highlighted his commitment to the pursuit of excellence, a factor upon which a better future for students and society as a whole is built.
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“Since our arrival at INEFI, we have been supporting the training and development efforts promoted by the institution’s teaching department, and we have committed to continuing to support those activities that drive the individual development of our teachers and the institution collectively,” revealed Rodríguez Mella.
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On behalf of the Virgilio Travieso Soto Basketball Foundation, its president, Joselín Rodríguez, expressed his gratitude to the National Institute of Physical Education, in the person of its executive director, Alberto Rodríguez Mella, for honoring the memory of the Dominican Sports Immortal by bestowing his name upon this award ceremony.
“The recognition by INEFI of these 41 physical education teachers, many of whom have dedicated their lives to promoting sports in the schools where they have worked, has been commendable and remarkable,” stated Rodríguez.
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In the section for lifetime teachers, 19 professors were recognized, among them, Rolando Miranda, Faisal Abel Hasbún, Fernando Teruel, Frank Kranwinkel, Saturnino Martínez, Franklin Duval, Daniel Ángel Lara, Nelson Acevedo, Américo Patnella Ceballo, Ramón Aybar, and Miguel Roldán.
Also Arturo Morales, José Manuel Paniagua, Nelson Ramírez, Milagros Espinal, Reynaldo Martínez., Dante Toribio, Luciano Álvarez and Manolo de la Mota.
In that same vein, but posthumously, César Padrón de los Santos (Papanini), Héctor Enrique Marchena Pérez, Vicente Andrés Paniagua, and Rafael (Papo) Germes Puentes were honored.
In “consistency, perseverance and dedication,” 11 veteran teachers took home the honors, among whom are Matilde Guerrero, Pascacio Mendoza, José Armando Zayas De la Rosa, Manuel Morel, Radhamés Paulino, José Antonio Pérez Mejía, Jacobo Moquete, Tony Mesa, Richard Martínez, Justo Rafael Cruz Liranzo and Domingo Rosario.
In entrepreneurship, six teachers were awarded: Moisés Martínez, José Antonio Brito Paula, Geoffrey Luis Ventura Díaz, Jeiser Adrián Santana, Mariel Olivo Jiménez de Narváez, and Dabel Emilio Reyes Adames.
