CROWN PRINCE ALEXANDER AWARDS SERBIA’S TOP 500 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS AT WHITE PALACE CEREMONY

Belgrade, 22 June 2008 – Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander II and Crown Princess Katherine hosted today at the White Palace an award ceremony for Serbia’s 500 best scholars from all the secondary schools in Serbia.

Apart from Their Royal Highnesses, the ceremony was also attended by Prof. Dr. Branko Kovacevic, Rector of Belgrade University, Mr. Philippos S. Karamanolis, President of the Board of Eurobank EFG, Prof. Radivoje Mitrovic, State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, members of the Diplomatic Corps, members of the Advisory Bodies of the Crown, Rectors of the Universities of Nis, Novi Sad and Kragujevac, donors of the Prince Alexander’s Foundation for Education as well as students who had received scholarships for Nottingham University in the United Kingdom, from Crown Prince Alexander’s Foundation for Education, in cooperation with the Fund for Young Talents of the Government of Serbia.

The Crown Prince in his speech thanked the Ministry of Education for supporting and EFG Bank that sponsored this event and congratulated the pupils for their achievement. The Crown Prince especially addressed the pupils and emphasized: “Your further education is the main goal for the country and all of us. Our foundation for education is going to help pupils in the future in the same way in order to make the best experts which this country deserves “.

Eurobank EFG is proud to continue collaboration with Crown Prince Alexander’s Foundation for Education, which is focusing on recognizing and giving support to the most talented youth in Serbia.

Education is one of the most important goals of our programme of social responsibility named “Investing in European valuables“, through which we have awarded the best students of State Universities and secondary schools.

I would like to congratulate all of you on your remarkable results. Also I would like to convince you that commitment and effort always give awards that you have deserved, no matter which profession is going to be your choice in your life“

Speeches were also delivered by Professor Radivoje Mitrovic on behalf of the Minister of Education and Professor Dr. Branko Kovacevic, Rector of the Belgrade University.

For several years His Royal Highness gave commendations to the top pupils of all secondary schools in Serbia, who have worked hard to achieve the highest marks during their secondary school education. Every secondary school in Serbia chose one best pupil who received a commendation and appropriate gifts.

They Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Alexander and Crown Princess Katherine extended their gratitude to the volunteers of the Kings Youth and Serbian Red Cross for their great support in organizing this event, as well as to the students from the High School for Tourism from Novi Sad and Belgrade, Bakery Trpkovic and Klas, Catering Slast, Amigo Company, Dessert Cacak, Coca Cola, Vujic Water, GSP Company and Energoprojekt Ingraf.