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Three CMCians Rise as EYLP: YSEALI MOOC Camp 2026 Fellows, Return Home Ready to Lead

Student leadership grows stronger when opportunity meets connection. Linkages open doors beyond the campus. And when CMCians step into wider spaces, they return with broader perspectives, stronger purpose, and a deeper responsibility to lead.

Out of 172 competitive applicants, three CMCians earned a place among the selected young leaders invited to learn, connect, and represent Central Mindanao Colleges in a transformative leadership and entrepreneurship experience.

Central Mindanao Colleges proudly celebrates Jade Wayne S. Chang, Senate President of the Collegiate Students Supreme Council; Sofia Elizabeth P. Saladan, Internal Vice President of CMC PRISM; and Ma. Lydia I. Serag, Senator of the Collegiate Students Supreme Council, following their participation in the 4th Batch Of The Emerging Young Leaders Program: Yseali Learns Mooc Camp 2026, held on August 28 to 29, 2026, at Ateneo de Davao University.

The two-day experience placed the three CMCians in a dynamic learning environment with emerging leaders, entrepreneurs, mentors, and changemakers. Through conversations, workshops, and shared experiences, they deepened their understanding of leadership, entrepreneurship, collaboration, purpose, and community impact.

For Serag, the journey was both humbling and energizing. Being selected from a highly competitive pool reminded her that leadership is never simply about holding a position. It is about how leaders inspire, serve, and create meaningful change in the communities they represent.

For Saladan, the experience strengthened her sense of purpose and reaffirmed the value of embracing opportunities beyond one’s comfort zone. She highlighted the lessons, friendships, and meaningful exchanges that helped broaden her perspective and deepen her commitment to becoming a more intentional and responsive young leader.

Chang’s perspective further reflected the value of entering spaces that challenge young leaders to think beyond titles and responsibilities. For him, leadership grows through initiative, collaboration, adaptability, and the willingness to learn from people with different experiences, ideas, and perspectives.

Together, their reflections highlighted something equally powerful behind every achievement: no student rises alone. Their journey was strengthened through the support of Central Mindanao Colleges, the Collegiate Students Supreme Council, CIAL-PRISM, their advisers, fellow student leaders, and the people who worked behind the scenes through coordination, planning, budgeting, approvals, and continued encouragement.

For CMC, their participation represents the kind of student development that matters most: learning that moves beyond the classroom, leadership that grows through experience, and opportunities that return to the community as meaningful action.

Their participation advances SDG 4: Quality Education through transformative learning beyond the classroom, SDG 5: Gender Equality through inclusive leadership opportunities for young women and men, SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth through entrepreneurship and enterprise development, and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals through meaningful collaboration with institutions and leadership networks.

The program was made possible through the efforts of the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, U.S. Mission to ASEAN, American Spaces Philippines, American Corner Davao at Ateneo de Davao University, YSEALI Davao Hub, the United States Government Alumni Association Davao, and partner organizations.

This is where student leadership and institutional linkages become truly powerful: when opportunities created through partnerships are transformed into confidence, competence, and service.

For Chang, Saladan, and Serag, the journey does not end with participation. They return to CMC carrying new networks, wider perspectives, and a stronger call to lead with purpose.

Connections create opportunities.

Meaningful leadership gives them direction.

CMC turns both into impact.

Choose CMC, where student leaders are connected to wider opportunities, empowered through meaningful partnerships, and prepared to lead beyond borders.

By Erolle Linus T. Miranda, Center for Marketing and Strategic Communications Officer

Publishers: News and Updates