507 to graduate with honors, biggest so far in MMSU history 

By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr.

As torchbearers of academic excellence in the new normal, 2,424 graduating students of Mariano Marcos State University are set to receive their diplomas during the 44th Commencement Exercises on July 15. The figure includes 507 honorees, the biggest number so far in the 44-year history of the university.

Maxime Gaile T. Pomoy from the Bachelor of Arts in Sociology program of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) leads the graduating class, with the highest general weighted average of 1.2143, qualifying her as magna cum laude. She is followed in the top five by Jason Albert D. Pascual (BS in Computer Science), Jeanne Mariz M. Fetalco (BA in English Studies), Jamico Cris R. Jingco (BA in Communication), and John Paul D. Alegre (BS in Computer Science), all from CAS.

Of the total number of honorees, 26 are magna cum laude, 479 cum laude, and one with distinction. 

The College of Teacher Education recorded the highest number of honorees with 186; followed by the College of Business, Economics and Accountancy with 151; CAS, 78; College of Engineering, 36; College of Health Sciences, 29; College of Agriculture, Food and Sustainable Development, 16; College of Industrial Technology, 9; and two from the College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology. 

According to Dr. Prima Fe R. Franco, vice president for academic affairs, the big number of honorees may be attributed to the increased number of learning opportunities and available resources offered by the university, as a result of the implementation of flexible learning and internationalization efforts during the pandemic. 

“As more mature learners from the K-12 program, our graduates’ self-learning styles may have also been nurtured by the MMSU Virtual Learning Environment or mVLE, so, they excelled,” she stressed. 

In addition, Prof. Henedine A. Aguinaldo, university registrar said, “The increase in the number of students in the university really burgeoned when we implemented the free tuition policy, in accordance to our law on universal access to quality tertiary education, may also be a factor why our number of honoree-graduates almost tripled.”   

Of the total number of graduating students, 2,360 finished their studies in the second semester, while 26 and 29 completed theirs in the first semester and midyear term, respectively. 

Among the academic units, CBEA has the biggest number of graduating students with 521; followed by CTE, 481; COE, 366; CHS, 303; CIT, 237; CAS, 200; CAFSD, 189; Graduate School, 55; CASAT, 40; College of Medicine, 24; and College of Law, eight. Their graduation was approved by the University Academic Council in a meeting held on July 4 at the MMSU Teatro Ilocandia.

Members of MMSU Class of 2020 will march at the Sunken Garden during the 44th Commencement Exercises to be held in-person on July 15, two years after government restriction on mass gathering was lifted in areas with Alert Level I status.  

Mr. Arsenio M. Balisacan, the country’s Secretary for Socioeconomic Planning and Director General for the National Economic and Development Authority, will serve as this year’s guest speaker. Balisacan is a BS in Agriculture graduate of MMSU in 1979. 

In congratulating the graduating students, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis said she is confident that the university has provided them with a good foundation of knowledge, skills, and values, which will make them become globally competitive and industry-ready individuals. 

“I am truly proud and excited to see you make your mark in the country and in the world as MMSU graduates, particularly now that our country needs virtuous human capital more than ever, as our nation enters a new era of leadership, vigor and vision,” she concluded. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)