Ria Dipashna Devi, the top scorer in Fiji’s Year 13 Certificate Exami­nation, said she was still stunned after collecting the International Youth Heroes award at the Maarthar Sangam Cultural night on April 15 at Churchill Park in Lautoka.

The Youth Heroes award recognises young people who excel in a variety of pro­fessions, with excellence in education be­ing the focus this year.

Ms Devi received the honour because she received the highest mark in Fiji for the Year 13 Certificate Examination, 395/400.

Santosh Neupane, Director of the Univer­sal Peace Federation Central Pacific, and Anjeela Jokhan, Permanent Secretary for Education, Heritage, and Arts, respective­ly, presented her with a certificate, a gold medal and $300.

“This is a very big moment for me be­cause this award is internationally recog­nised and receiving this award in Fiji and representing Fiji in the Universal Peace Federation is a very big thing for me and I’m really happy about it,” she said.

She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) at the Fiji National University in Suva.

She travelled to Lautoka to receive her award.

“I couldn’t believe I was receiving it, and I’m overjoyed because I was chosen from Fiji, and it’s like each student from about 300 countries all over the world receives an award, and I was chosen from Fiji this year,” she said.