is more than 50 years old. The drum major, or leader, of the band is selected by democratic process in which band members cast a secret ballot. Such process has taken place every year since 1952 and all members of the band vote. This is one of the most traditional school bands in Colombia. The band won the Silver Baton (Batuta de Plata) competition for the first time in 1999 with Sebastian Devis as drum major, a second in 2006 with Nicolás Medina as drum major, a third in 2012 with Germán García as drum major, a fourth in 2016 with Pablo Güete as drum major, and fifth and second consecutive win in 2017 with Juan Felipe Noguera as drum major. The marching band received a award on 7 July 2018 by the Congress of the Republic of Colombia, the award was received by Jeronimo Marulanda, the drum major of 2018, and by Juan Jose Laverde, the drum major from 1952. Notable alumni Alfonso Lopez Michelsen former president of Colombia Ernesto Samper Pizano former president of Colombia Julio Mario Santo Domingo businessman Rodolfo Llinás neuroscientist Mario Laserna Pinzón founder of University of Los Andes (Colombia) Fidel Cano Correa journalist, CEO of El Espectador newspaper Guillermo Cano Isaza journalist Rafael Pardo former congressman, minister of Defense and Labour and mayor of Bogotá Eduardo Caballero Calderón journalist and writer , journalist and writer Daniel Samper Pizano lawyer, journalist, writer José Alejandro Cortes founder of Grupo Bolivar German Puerta astronomer Diego Trujillo actor Jorge Enrique Abello actor External links gimnasiomoderno.edu.co Don Agustin Nieto Caballero Montessori Schools in Science Magazine Schools in Bogotá Montessori schools National Monuments of Colombia Educational institutions established in 1914 1914 establishments in South America