by: Christine V. Ordinario
from PSHS-CVC Documentation Committee
A Grade 12 student of Philippine Science High School – Cagayan Valley Campus (PSHS–CVC) was chosen as one of the recipients of the Karsh International Scholarship Program at Duke University.
Edrian Paul S. Liao of 12–Eridani was chosen from the pool of international student admits of Duke University to become one of the recipients of the Karsh scholarship, a merit-based full scholarship for international students at Duke University.
Liao went through the rigorous selection process of the Karsh scholarship program, competing with other applicants from different parts of the world.
The scholarship is awarded to applicants whose awards, activities, grades, and other evidences of merit qualify for the Karsh criteria.
The said scholarship covers tuition, exact housing charges, standard meal plan, mandatory fees that include student activity, student service, student health, recreation, dining hall, mailbox, and registration fees, and access to Karsh Scholarship-specific research and special project funding, among others.
During his senior year, Liao applied for college education at Duke University in North Carolina, USA.
Duke University is ranked 5th in Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education National College Rankings 2021 and 20th in Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2021.
In December 2020, Liao received a confirmation of his acceptance to the said university where he initially intends to pursue mechanical engineering and computer science.
As soon as he was admitted to Duke, Liao began searching for opportunities that would cover his other needs in pursuing his education at Duke, and to relieve his parents from the burden of covering his college expenses.
"To be frank, this is the biggest achievement I have so far not only because it is highly competitive but also because it creates a clear path for me and my country towards a better future. This just goes to show that our limits do not exist at all as long as we work hard for it. As we always see along the corridors of Pisay, hard work beats talent when talent does not work hard," expressed Liao.
"Liao is a consistent Director’s lister since Grade 7, a multi–awarded contestant in science and math competitions, an exceptional athlete and singer, and an active advocate of academic causes and student drives."
