The university holds its 38th Commencement Exercises today, April 5, at the sprawling 1,500 square-meter Sunken Garden whose blossoming sunflowers at this time of the year have come to symbolize the bright prospects that await the emerging professionals, this year numbering 2,172.

This morning at the MMSU Covered Court, the Baccalaureate Program was led by religious leaders from various churches. It was followed by the hooding ceremonies for those from the College of Law and the Graduate School, and the pinning of medals for honor graduates.  

Unlike in previous years when the march started at the University Library grounds and ended at the Sunken Garden, the graduation march will have a different route this time. At 3 p.m., the processional will start at the  front lawn of the Ferdinand E. Marcos Hall (Administration Building), widely regarded as one of the Philippines’ architectural wonders. This year’s guest of honor and speaker is Dr. Gil Saguiguit Jr., director of SEAMEO-SEARCA (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization-Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture). He traces his paternal roots in Batac.

Breakdown of graduates

Of the 2,172 members of Class 2015, 2,007 finished their studies in the second semester while 76 and 89 completed their degrees in the first semester and summer term, respectively.

The College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA) has the biggest number with 583; followed by the College of Teacher Education (CTE), 389; College of Industrial Technology (CIT), 338; College of Engineering (CoE), 305; College of Health Sciences (CHS), 194; College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), 161; College of Agriculture, Food, and Sustainable Development (CAFSD), 149; Graduate School, 34; College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology, 12 (CASAT); and College of Law, 7.

Among the undergraduate programs, BS Industrial Technology (BSIT) has the biggest number of graduates with 243. It is followed by the Bachelor of Elementary Education (BEEd) with 225; Bachelor of Secondary Education (BSE),164; BS Business Administration-Marketing Management (BSBA-MM), 105; BS Civil Engineering, 94; BS Accounting Technology, 93; BS Tourism Management, 92; BS Electrical Engineering, 90; BS Pharmacy, 87; BS Agriculture, 81; BS Nursing, 77; and BS Hospitality Management, 75.

Honor graduates

MMSU Class of 2016 is led by 154 honor graduates: 14 magna cum laude and 140 cum laude. It is the biggest number of honor graduates the university has produced. The highest general weighted average (GWA) of 1.3607 was obtained by Joshua B. Salvador who graduates magna cum laude under the BS Accountancy program.