Toppers of Ursuline Convent Girls’ High School after the felicitation at the annual prize distribution ceremony in Ranchi on Thursday. Picture by Prashant Mitra

Ranchi, June 19: After students put in months of hard work, it was now time for them be awarded.

Ursuline Convent Girls’ High School and Intermediate College today felicitated toppers of Classes VI to XII in the 2007-08 academic session at an annual prize distribution ceremony today.

Affiliated to the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC), the school achieved outstanding results. All the candidates had passed the exam.

Top scorers in mathematics, computers, general knowledge, religion and moral science in each class and those having 100 per cent attendance throughout the academic session were also awarded.

After the prize distribution, the school cabinet took part in an oath-taking ceremony.

Swati Kandulna was the Intermediate topper of the school and also the science topper who scored 74.4 per cent. Grace Albesia Ekka was the arts topper and scored 63 per cent.

Among Class X toppers were Neha Niti Pandey at 88.4 per cent. The school had three students who came second — Anjali Neha, Anamika Nisha and Richa Sinha — all with 87 per cent.

Senior Mary Grace, the principal of the school, said: “This year, we thought of awarding those students who have never been absent from classes. It was done basically to motivate them to be regular to class.”

Grace added that this year there was only one student from the Intermediate section who had 100 per cent attendance.

She was of the opinion that this award will inspire more students to be sincere towards attending classes, instead of bunking and spending time with friends.

At the school-level, those who stood first and second were also awarded.

Sabia Minj, a Class VII student, who stood first in class, said: “Both my parents work as labourers at construction sites and are unable to help me with my studies, but the teachers are very supportive. Teachers and friends at school are also a constant source of strength for me. They are also supportive.”

Mayor Rama Khalkho, the chief guest on the occasion, said: “The discipline and punctuality that school life instils in a person helps one in all walks of life. Those selected as custodians of the discipline today may emerge as leaders tomorrow,” said Khalkho while addressing around 1,600 students.