BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China awarded 50 youngsters Friday evening for their bravery in the rescue after the May 12 earthquake that jolted the southwestern Sichuan Province.

    Li Changchun, member of the Political Bureau Standing Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, attended the ceremony and conferred awards to the young ethic models chosen by more than 50 million votes via telephone calls, fax and E-mails since the nationwide selection campaign was launched on June 6.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, poses with honored youngsters in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2008. Li Changchun attended a party for honored heroical youngsters in the quake areas in Beijing on Friday.

Lin Hao, a 9-year-old boy in Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County who pulled out two classmates from the rubble, and other 19 students were awarded the honor of "heroic children" in quake rescue and relief, while the other 30 were titled "exemplary children".

    At the ceremony, Li Changchun said the heroic and touching deeds of these children have provided "vivid" models for ethic education and values shaping in the country.

Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, hugs Lin Hao, a 9-year-old honored boy from the quake areas in Beijing, capital of China, June 27, 2008. Li Changchun attended a party for honored heroical youngsters in the quake areas in Beijing on Friday

    As part of the award, four senior high school graduates were enrolled by higher learning institutions without taking entrance examinations, including the prestigious Beijing University and Qinghua University.

    The Ministry of Education publicized a circular on Friday to schools nationwide, calling on all students to learn from the 50 models.