MANILA, Philippines?Quezon City student leader Alexis Dujua will lead this year?s 12 outstanding public high school students nationwide who will get college scholarships from Vice President Noli de Castro.

The winners were chosen from among the hundreds of deserving students from the more than 5,000 public high schools across the country.

The VP de Castro awards, dubbed ?Edukasyon: Sagot sa Hamon ng Kahirapan,? grants college scholarships to deserving public high school students who have excelled in academics and have shown exemplary leadership in school and the community despite difficult challenges and hardships in life.

Dujua, whose parents separated many years ago, managed to beat the odds and demonstrated exemplary leadership. He is to graduate this summer from the Don Quintin Paredes High School, the smallest public high school in Quezon City, where he is president of the Supreme Student Government. He was also elected president of Metro Manila?s Regional Federation of student councils.

De Castro said the 12 students from the National Capital Region, Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao had faced extreme difficulties in life yet managed to excel in academics and show exemplary leadership.

They will be presented the awards on Friday in simple ceremonies in Malacañang. In addition to college scholarships and Vice Presidential medals, the awardees will also receive cash and other prizes.

Aside from Dujua, other winners of the 3rd Vice President Noli De Castro Academic Excellence and Exemplary Leadership Awards are Zarah Donna Domingo of the Agusan National High School in Butuan City; Dena Mae Desabille from the Mandaue City Science High School in Mandaue City; and Lorenz Ray Payonga of the Marcia Ranola Memorial High School in Guinobatan, Albay, all leadership awardees.

Awardees for academic excellence are Aloha Gay Quimba from the Bukidnon National High School in Malaybalay City, Bukidnon; Alyssa Tricia Vintola from the Dumaguete Science High school in Dumaguete City; Ron Michael Castillo from the Jose Leido Memorial National High School in Calapan City, Mindoro Occidental; and Isabella Supnet of the Muntinlupa Science High School in Muntinlupa City.

Recipients of Special Vice Presidential Awards are Lyle Maxine Chua of the Pasay City Science High School and Ma. Leizl Lacsa from the Aurelio Arago Memorial National High School in Victoria, Mindoro Oriental.

Romel Daco of the Rizal National High School in Santiago City, Isabela will receive the special Kabayan Foundation award.