- Ateneo's Jesu Manzano was accepted into the highly selective Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) 2025 program, becoming the first from his school to do so.
- He received a scholarship and was admitted to his top-choice course in Politics, Law, and Economics, highlighting his academic excellence.
- Jesu has previously competed at Yale in the World Scholar’s Cup and recently reached the semifinals of the 2025 Asian Schools Debating Championship in Vietnam.
Incoming Grade 12 student Jesu Manzano of Ateneo de Manila Senior High School has been accepted into the highly selective Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS) program, held in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. Jesu, from section 11-Hurtado, is the first student from Ateneo Senior High to be admitted into this world-renowned summer program.
Currently underway, the session Jesu is attending runs from June 22 to July 4, 2025. YYGS is a premier academic enrichment program administered directly by Yale University, with an acceptance rate of only 10–15%, making it one of the most competitive pre-college programs globally. This year, more than 13,000 students from over 150 countries applied. Only 600 students per session and 1,800 overallwere selected.
Jesu was accepted into his first-choice track: Politics, Law, and Economics (PLE). His selection comes with a scholarship award, highlighting the strength of his academic record, application essays, recommendations, and school evaluation. According to Yale’s admissions data, Jesu’s acceptance marks a historic first for Ateneo de Manila Senior High School.
A Yale insider revealed that 10 participants this year have significant ties to the Philippines, whether through citizenship, schooling, or residence.
This isn’t Jesu’s first academic venture at Yale. In November 2023, as a Grade 10 student, he competed in the World Scholar’s Cup Tournament of Champions (TOC) at Yale. There, he won three gold medals Top 86 Individual Debate, Top 40 Team Debate, and Individual Writing and three silver medals, including Champion Scholar and Top 144 Team.
Jesu is also an accomplished debater. Just before heading to the YYGS program, he represented the Philippines at the Asian Schools Debating Championship (ASDC) 2025 in Vietnam, where his team reached the Open Semifinals of the elite regional tournament.
Jesu’s exceptional academic and co-curricular achievements reflect both his personal dedication and the supportive, holistic education of the Ateneo community. His journey stands as a testament to the intellectual rigor, global mindset, and values-driven formation that define Ateneo de Manila’s commitment to excellence.
