Mariano Marcos
State University

Unrivaled Raval: Chalzea’s journey to become MMSU’s fifth summa cum laude

By Jedd Bryant Boado
 

For seven years, Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) waited for another student to earn its highest academic distinction: summa cum laude. Since BS Accountancy graduate Sherwin Paul Tambio received the honor in 2019, the university's valedictorians have all been recognized as magna cum laude.
 

But on May 26, the University Academic Council announced that among the record-breaking 844 honor graduates of the Class of 2026, its valedictorian would carry the highest distinction once again.
 

She is Chalzea Johanna Raval, a BS Biology graduate who made history as only the fifth recipient of the university's highest academic distinction.
 

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀
 

Chalzea, or Chally as she is fondly called, grew up in Brgy. Bobon, Burgos, Ilocos Norte. As the only child of Mr. Jonathan Raval, a land surveyor and farmer, and Mrs. Charisma Raval, a school librarian, she grew up in relative comfort. Even then, her father was quick to instill in her the value of humility and of never forgetting where she came from.
 

“I always tell her to stay grounded and remain humble. Even if she becomes successful in life, she should never change her heart or forget where she came from,” he said.
 

Meanwhile, her mother taught her the value of resilience—that even when faced with life’s greatest challenges, she should remain strong and cling to the Lord.
 

“I always tell her, ‘𝘢𝘨𝘢𝘯-𝘢𝘯𝘶𝘴𝘬𝘢 [keep going].’ Whenever life gets difficult, I remind her never to forget praying and trusting the Lord, whatever the circumstances are,” she said.
 

As a child, Chally had many dreams. Although they changed over the years, they all shared a common thread: her desire to learn, create, and make a meaningful impact on other people’s lives.
 

“The earliest dream I can remember was becoming a CPA-lawyer because I admired their knowledge and ability to solve other people’s problems. There was also a time when I wanted to become a film director or a writer. Ultimately, the dream that stuck with me was to become a doctor,” she said.
 

𝗕𝗼𝗿𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗲𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲
 

Chally’s love for learning became more evident when she enrolled at Bobon Elementary School (BES), where she showcased her brilliance.
 

When she was still a fourth-grader, Chally wore many hats. She competed in journalism, quiz bees, chess, volleyball, and taekwondo, earning awards and recognitions. She also took on leadership roles, becoming president of the Supreme Pupil Government of BES.
 

In high school, that same drive brought her to the highly competitive special science class of Ilocos Norte National High School. There, science was no longer confined to textbooks but came alive through laboratory work and experimentation. From that moment, she realized she wanted to become a biologist, which, in her mind, was a perfect pre-med program at the time.
 

“Biology fascinated me because it allowed me to understand life from the molecular level all the way to entire ecosystems,” she said.
 

In senior high school, Chally enrolled in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) strand in the same institution to further her studies in science, where she again excelled and continued building on the achievements she had earned since childhood.
 

From elementary to high school, Chally followed her curiosity wherever it led her. She became an elementary valedictorian in 2016, a junior high student with high honors in 2020, and a senior high graduate with highest honors in 2022.
 

“I never viewed studying as a burden. Instead, I saw it as an opportunity to grow, improve myself, and better understand the world around me,” she said.
 

𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱
 

After senior high school, Chally had no shortage of opportunities. Her outstanding academic record earned her admission to several universities, including a slot in MMSU’s BS Biology program. At first, however, the university was not her first choice.
 

“To be honest, MMSU was not originally my first-choice university. My dream school at that time was Saint Louis University in Baguio because my initial plan was to pursue Medical Technology. However, life has a way of leading us to places we never expected to be. After weighing my options, I finally chose MMSU,” she said.
 

At MMSU, Chally immersed herself in the program she had dreamed of since high school: Biology. Through laboratory work, field activities, and research, she honed her scientific knowledge, critical thinking, and research skills under the guidance of professors and instructors from the Department of Biological Sciences.
 

Like her peers, she balanced examinations, laboratory reports, surprise quizzes, and eventually her thesis. Yet beyond academics, she remained someone people could rely on.
 

Her best friend and study buddy, Lacel Belle Domingo, described her as “a dependable friend, a source of comfort, and someone who always offers support and encouragement when needed.” Meanwhile, her mentor in Plant Physiology and Biotechnology, Prof. Mae Rose Maoirat-Abad, saw her as someone “grounded in faith, smart but not boastful, and a person of character.”
 

In retrospect, Chally said that despite her initial doubts, MMSU became the place where she found purpose and belonging.
 

“Looking back now, I can confidently say that choosing MMSU was one of the best decisions I have ever made. It provided me with excellent mentors, opportunities for growth, and experiences that helped shape both my academic journey and my character,” she said.
 

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗧𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗴 𝗘𝗹𝗺𝗲𝗿
 

Chally has always had a soft spot for her grandfather, Mr. Elmer Calaoagan Sr., whom she simply calls 𝘛𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨. Growing up, he helped take care of her, celebrated her milestones, and was her greatest cheerleader.
 

“Whenever I received awards or accomplished something, he would proudly tell our relatives and even his friends about it. Even when he was working in Hawaii, he never failed to call and check on our family,” she said.
 

In many ways, 𝘛𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 was the glue that held the family together. He never stopped reminding Chally to value education and to remain true to the lessons her parents had taught her.
 

“One piece of advice he often told me was, ‘𝘈𝘨𝘣𝘢𝘴𝘢 𝘬𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘨 [Study hard].’ He always believed in my potential and reminded me that intelligence alone is not enough. Character, perseverance, and treating people well are equally important,” she said.
 

However, in the final months of her stay at MMSU, 𝘛𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 battled chronic kidney disease. Chally held onto the hope that he would recover in time to witness her graduation.
 

But on April 29, while she was reviewing until 4 a.m. for her final examinations, a message from her mother shattered that hope.
 

“When I checked my phone, I saw a message from my mother informing me that 𝘛𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘨 had passed away. The moment I read those words, everything seemed to stop,” she said.
 

Nonetheless, even amid grief and academic pressure, Chally remembered the promise she had made to her grandfather only weeks before.
 

“I would often tell him to get well soon because I wanted him to accompany me on stage. Jokingly, he told me that he would not attend if I did not graduate with honors. I jokingly replied, ‘𝘉𝘢𝘬𝘢 𝘢𝘨-𝘴𝘶𝘮𝘮𝘢 𝘯𝘢𝘬 𝘱𝘢𝘺 [Maybe I’ll even graduate summa cum laude].’ He laughed and said that if that happened, he would even fly to the stage himself,” she recounted.
 

Unknown to both of them, the joke they shared would soon become reality.
 

𝗔 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆

While riding a bus from Burgos to Laoag, Chally received the news she once thought would remain a jest: she had been named summa cum laude and would serve as valedictorian of the MMSU Class of 2026.
 

Behind the honor was a family that never stopped believing in her, especially her mother, whose own academic journey became one of Chally’s inspirations.
 

“In college, my mother was a consistent dean’s lister and was close to graduating magna cum laude. But as a polio survivor, she struggled with the physical demands of her program, which affected her final standing. From then on, I quietly hoped that I could fulfill not only my own dream but also the one she was unable to achieve,” she said.
 

Chally did not take sole credit for her achievement. Like her previous laurels, she dedicates it to the people who have always believed in her.
 

“This achievement is not mine alone. It is also a tribute to my parents’ perseverance, sacrifices, and unwavering support. It belongs as much to my relatives, mentors, friends, and everyone who believed in me,” she shared.
 

When asked about her plans after graduation, Chally said she intends to enroll at the MMSU College of Medicine and serve as a rural doctor in Burgos someday. She cites Dr. Aira Cassandra Castro-Agra, also a Biology graduate who became an MMSU summa cum laude valedictorian, as one of her inspirations.
 

“Becoming a rural doctor is not only a career goal for me but also a way of serving my hometown and making a meaningful impact on people’s lives,” she said.
 

𝗙𝗼𝗿 𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀
 

Today, June 11, Chally joined her fellow graduates in receiving their hard-earned diplomas on the second day of the university’s commencement exercises at the iconic Sunken Garden. Despite her long list of achievements, she tells this writer that she is just like any other student.
 

“To my fellow graduates, I want you to know that I am no different from any of you. Behind every recognition and achievement are countless struggles, doubts, failures, and sacrifices that many people never get to see. If I were able to reach this point, I believe that each of you is also capable of achieving your own dreams and aspirations,” she shared.
 

On paper, Chally may be unrivaled. But beyond the medals and distinctions, she remains the same young girl from Bobon who never stopped learning, never ceased being kind, and never forgot to lift others along the way.