A student receives an award at Jayadev Bhavan on Sunday. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, July 31: For Chinmay Mohanty, a Class VII student of Ispat English Medium in Rourkela, winning the Science Olympiad Foundation award was a dream come true.

“This prize would motivate me to work towards my ambition of becoming a scientist,” said the 13-year-old.

Apart from Chinmay, 90 talented children from various schools across the state received medals, certificates and mementoes at the state-level award ceremony held at Jayadev Bhavan on Sunday morning. These students of Class II to Class X won the awards in four categories — mathematics, computer, English and cyber Olympiad. Twenty teachers were also honoured.

On this occasion, the foundation also launched a Girl Child Scholarship Scheme to provide financial assistance to girl students of the poor sections of the society. According to this scheme, 75 poor girls would be provided with an annual scholarship worth Rs 18,000. The scheme would be implemented from next year.

For the first time, the state-level prize distribution ceremony for Orissa was held in Bhubaneswar. “Orissa has an amazingly huge pool of talent,” said Rajan Marwaha, director of corporate communication of the foundation.

The young awardees were delighted about their success in the science Olympiad. “These awards would definitely help boost our confidence. I feel on the top of the world. My hard work has been recognised,” said Rishab Raj, who had received a medal for his success in mathematics Olympiad.

Chairman of the state human rights commission Justice R.K. Patra, director of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bhubaneswar Madhusudan Chakraborty and vice-chancellor of Orissa University of Agricultural technology D.P. Ray attended the event.