A total of 2,800 graduates will receive their degrees today during the university’s 41st Commencement Exercises at the 1,000 square-meter Sunken Garden.

Addressing the graduates is Dr. J. Prospero E. De Vera III, chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education. De Vera is expected to inspire and challenge the members of the graduating class to take an active part in nation-building.  

De Vera is an academician who has used his technical expertise to help policymakers, educate the public, and run political campaigns. His areas of policy expertise cover higher education, agriculture, indigenous communities, environment and climate change, good governance, and local governments.

The event starts with a Baccalaureate Program at the University Covered Court led by religious leaders from various churches. It is followed by the hooding ceremonies for those from the College of Law and the Graduate School, and the pinning of medals for honor graduates.  

At 4:00 pm, the 2,800 graduates from the various colleges this year will follow the MMSU officials and the university colours as they march from the lawn of the University Library to the Sunken Garden.

Of the 2,800 candidates for graduation, 42 are mid-year graduates, while 137 and 2,621 are first and second semester 2018-2019 graduates, respectively.

Leading the candidates is Sherwin Paul L. Tambio, a BS Accountancy graduate from the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy (CBEA) who garnered a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.1169, thus, qualifying him as the fourth summa cum laude graduate in MMSU history.

Following Tambio are the 15 magna cum laude graduates from the four colleges. Of this number, seven are from the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), six from CBEA, and one each from the College of Engineering (COE) and the College of Teacher Education (CTE).

Czarina Berlynn Donne M. Agustin, Justine Paula A. Agustin, ChessaPae N. Faustino, Desiree R. Tabaco, Minerva A. Aceret and RheumelKheem Albano from CAS got 1.3161, 1.3387, 1.3831, 1.3866, 1.4298, and 1.4317 GWA, respectively; while Weendel Ace P. Ventura, Chelsey L. Valdeviso, Jenny Marie M. Sado, Jose Leo B. Rojas, Jeremy S. Pascual, and Eloisa Mae T. Agmata garnered 1.3137, 1.3449, 1.3831, 1.3862, 1.4248, and 1.4329 GWA, respectively.

Jacob John U. Bautista from COE got 1.426 GWA, while Shaira Marie S. Valdez from CTE got 1.4271 GWA.

There are also 149 cum laude graduates this year, 53 of which are from CTE, 44 from CBEA, 20 from CAS, 16 from COE, eight from College of Industrial Technology (CIT), four from College of Health Sciences (CHS), three from College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development (CAFSD), and one from the College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology (CASAT).

On the other hand, special awards are given to nine graduates — one from CIT who got with high distinction honours, and five, two, and one from CBEA, CTE, and CAFSD who got with distinction. 

The summary on the data of graduates as approved by the University Academic Council during its 127th regular meeting held last May 17 is as follows: Graduate School, 41; College of Law, 9; CAFSD, 363; CASAT, 41; CAS, 248; CBEA, 739; COE, 369; CHS, 285; CIT, 354; and CTE, 351.