President Leonel Fernández said during the ceremony to honor meritorious elementary and secondary students at the National Palace that when he ends his term in August 2000, all Dominican lyceums will offer computer instruction. He promised that computer labs will be installed in the high schools. During the event, the 10 year old daughter of President Fernández, Nicole Fernández, was honored with a medal. She told the press she would like to be President of the Republic. President Fernández told the students he never thought he would be President, as his aspiration was to be an outstanding baseball player. The President’s advice to the students was to make up their minds as to what they wanted to be and then get the education to become that. He also said that what in life knowledge is more important than the money one has. The President himself was a book worm. The President announced that reading and individual subject school Olympics will be held to recognize the merits of students in government and private schools. One-hundred-twenty-eight meritorious students met at the National Palace where they were honored by the President for their high grades in school. The President told the students, "Life will bring many problems, difficulties and obstacles, but tenacity, dedication and permanent effort will ensure your success."
