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By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The Queen of the Rosary College, Onitsha Global Alumnae Association (Old Girls) led by Dr. (Mrs.) Ngozi Okose, USA (Global President, QRC Alumnae Association) last Tuesday at the College's Chapel presented a Cheque of One Million Two Hundred and Twelve Thousand Five Hundred Naira (1,212,500) to the seven winners of the Diamond Challenge for High School Entrepreneurs, conducted by the University of Delaware in the USA.<!--more-->

Addressing the beneficiaries, Dr Okose who was represented by Dr. Felicia Ejamike, President, QRC Alumnae, Onitsha Chapter expressed gratitude to God for the gift of her Alma mater as well as the former and present students of the college, noting that she was impressed with their performance.

'I call you "Alpha Team" because of your stellar performance, of placing in the first position globally, has launched our alma mater, Queen of the Rosary College (QRC), Onitsha, as well as Nigeria and the entire continent of Africa into a Global Platform of Excellence. All are proud of you, especially those of us who passed through this noble citadel of learning. You have proved that excellent students from institutions, like QRC, can change the world positively.

'On behalf of Umu Q Alumnae Global, I congratulate you all. We stand with you on this landmark achievement. Kudos to you all! Today, we bestow on you with honor, gratitude, respect and academic scholarships for the rest of your stay in QRC.

'May our Almighty Father guide you through your journeys in life, and nurture you spiritually, academically, emotionally and physically. May our Mother Mary, Queen of the Rosary, continue to intercede on your behalf. Through her, you will continue to succeed.

'To your mentors and all the teachers who laid the foundation to this success, we say, Thank you. Our Sister Principal, Sr. Maria Chijioke Nwankwo, we celebrate you too. Again, Congratulations to the Alpha Team,' she concluded.

Presenting the cheques, the two Members of the QRC Alumnae Education Trust Fund Committee, Mrs. Rosemary Nnamdi Okagbue and Hon Lady Ngozi Okoye joined by other Alumnae charged the winners as well as the students to work harder and focus on their academic pursuits, emphasizing that hard work pays.

Mrs Okagbue and Lady Okoye who took their time to offer different renditions to the highly elated winners and students stated that they were in their alma mater to celebrate excellence, hard work and dedication, urging the beneficiaries not rest on their oars, saying that their journey to stardom had just begun.

Welcoming the Old Girls, the Principal of the College, Reverend Sister Maria Chijioke Nwankwo (IHM) thanked the QRC,Onitsha Global Alumnae Association for their thoughtfulness, assuring that the gesture would spur the beneficiaries on do more exploits, even she prayed God bless and replenish their purse abundantly.

Contributing the Vice Principal (Admin), Mrs Ogbughalu Eucharia corroborated the Principal by appreciating the Old Girls what she described as noble gesture worthy of emulation.

The two mentors of the awardees, Mr. Onuigbo John Chukwubuikem and Mr Obikwelu Kyrian Sochima received 140,000 Naira each as school fees cover from the QRC, Onitsha Global Alumnae Association

Names of the beneficiaries are as follows:
1. Stephanie Chinonyelum Anozie
2. Rita Chinenye Iheator
3. Vivian Chisom Iwuno
4. Sandra Onyinye Mgbafulu
5. Stephanie Mmesoma Nnaji
6. Rachael Amara Okechukwu, and
7. MaryJane Chidimma Okoye