𝘽𝙮 𝘽𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙩 𝘼𝙣𝙙𝙧𝙚𝙬 𝙍𝙞𝙠𝙠𝙚 𝘽𝙪𝙣𝙜𝙘𝙖𝙮𝙖𝙤, 𝙎𝙏𝙍𝘼𝙏𝘾𝙊𝙈 𝘾𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙣𝙩

Four years ago, two Ilocos Norte National High School graduates were just on screen waiting for their names to be called during their senior high school virtual graduation ceremony.

Amid the uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they entered college remotely, much like most of their senior high school experience. Fast forward to 2025, the same schoolmates, who were once unsure of the paths they chose, will walk at the iconic Sunken Garden and be co-valedictorians of Mariano Marcos State University.

Meet Xamantha Angelique Ruiz and Kryshna Campañano, the top students who achieved a general weighted average of 1.2500, the highest in their class, graduating magna cum laude.

Xamantha proudly graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the College of Computing and Information Sciences, while Kryshna proudly earns her degree in Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the College of Arts and Sciences.

𝗡𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲

Both from Laoag City, the co-valedictorians shared that they initially planned to pursue programs very different from the degrees they eventually selected, a common experience among students.

Ruiz explained that her decision to study computer science was based on practicality. “I chose computer science not out of passion, but because I was being practical. The industry offers high-paying jobs and in-demand careers nationally and even abroad,” she explained.

She added that another factor influencing her choice was that computer science is a priority course, which automatically qualified her for a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) scholarship. Ruiz also mentioned that her second-choice program was Civil Engineering, driven by her strong love for mathematics and numbers.

Meanwhile, Campañano was supposed to pursue either accountancy or chemical engineering, but what made her interested in sociology was her natural desire to use it as a way to leverage her knowledge as she aspires to become a future lawyer.

“It wasn’t my priority, but I just suddenly became interested in the field of sociology. Initially, I wanted to pursue accountancy to venture into law, but some have told me that sociology is a good pre-law course,” Campañano said.

Sticking to their decisions, they pursued their respective programs, both exceeding the 100 mark out of 150 items on their MMSU College Admission Test.

𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗲 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗢𝗩𝗜𝗗-𝟭𝟵 𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗰

Coming from a distance learning delivery system in senior high school, Ruiz and Campañano still struggled with the setup brought about by the lockdowns, synchronous, and asynchronous classes.

Both shared that they had difficulties with the delivery of instruction, as flexible learning was mainly centered on the use of online video conferencing platforms such as Google Meet and Zoom, as well as the university’s very own MVLE or the MMSU Virtual Learning Environment.

Ruiz recounted that she struggled with her mathematics courses during her first two semesters as a first-year student, as it is delivered online.

“Most of the subjects during our freshman year involved math, such as pre-calculus and even logic, so it was very difficult to understand and grasp the lessons,” she shared.

Despite the challenges, it did not stop her from earning a flat 1.0 in one of her mathematics subjects.

Campañano shared the same sentiments, having also faced her struggles during the transition to online education.

“Xamantha and I both graduated from senior high school online, so the shift was a bit expected–that we were gonna have online classes. I struggled a bit since college was really different, and professors were also strict,” Campañano explained.

It didn’t take long. After two semesters, their sophomore year marked the return to face-to-face classes, and both were finally able to enjoy learning. Campañano highlighted how excited they were on their first day as second-year college students.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼-𝘃𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗻𝘀

Neither of them expected to achieve the highest academic distinction, much less tie for it. Receiving the news came as a shock to both.

For Xamantha, the honor came as an unexpected yet joyful surprise. “For how many years CAS has claimed the valedictory spot, and now, I am the first valedictorian from my college, CCIS. I never expected any of this since it was not my goal to be valedictorian,” she said.

The co-valedictorians share more than just their academic honor as they’re not strangers to each other, as they were schoolmates in high school.

Both hail from Laoag City and are alumni of Ilocos Norte National High School, Class of 2021. Ruiz pursued the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics strand and graduated With Highest Honors, while Campañano took the Humanities and Social Sciences strand and was awarded With High Honors.

Though they may not have moved in the same circles, they already knew of each other back then.

It’s as if destiny had a premonition that these two would rise to the top together. Back in junior high school, Xamantha was part of the Special Science Class, while Kryshna was in the Basic Education Curriculum.

"We didn’t really talk, but we usually ran into each other during events and school competitions,” Kryshna shared.

𝗚𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗠𝗦𝗨 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀

Throughout their academic journey, both Xamantha and Kryshna credit their success to the support of their respective colleges and their loved ones.

Xamantha expressed deep gratitude for the mentorship she received from CCIS. “What I appreciate most about the faculty members of CCIS is that once they see potential in you, they harness it and motivate you to really do your best,” she said.

Likewise, Kryshna extended heartfelt thanks to the faculty of CAS. “What I admire and am most thankful for are the instructors of CAS. They give their utmost best in teaching and ensure that students truly learn,” she shared.

“On top, I really dedicate my success to my parents since my father sacrificed his career as a seaman, and my mother did not continue college because of me. I am the eldest, and they always had to be present at all times for me,” Krishna shared.

𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆

Xamantha's unforgettable learning from her computer science degree program is the real-world impact of technology. “I’ve instilled in my mindset—and I hope others do as well—that the projects and performance tasks we create are not only for grades but are ultimately meant to improve the quality of life in communities and societies,” she remarked.

She also shared how her lack of knowledge in computer science prior to entering college became a major hurdle. “From having no background at all, I dedicated my time to practice every day, driven by hard work, determination, and perseverance.”

For Kryshna, the sociology program taught her to view the world more deeply. “To understand problems, you must look at the root causes and their meanings. You can uncover people’s stories and understand the complexities of life through different lenses,” she said.

Xamantha plans to enter the computer or information technology industry and hopes to work in a government agency with a dedicated unit, as part of fulfilling her four-year return service under the DOST Scholarship.

Kryshna, on the other hand, will pursue a law degree at MMSU, following in the footsteps of former valedictorians from her college, Maxime Gaile Pomoy (BA Sociology, Batch 2022) and Leianne Zyra Calderon (BA Communication, Batch 2023), who are currently enrolled at the MMSU College of Law.

When asked what it means to them to be an MMSU graduate, their responses reflect pride and purpose.

“As a stallion graduate, I am very proud to be a stallion. I am very grateful to have been given the chance to maximize my potential, grow, and transform here at MMSU. Being an MMSU graduate means always carrying the brand of excellence at all times,” Xamantha answered.

For Krishna, being a university graduate means giving back to the community. “And I'm proud to hold high the green and gold. Being an MMSU graduate means carrying not just the name of the university, but its vision and mission,” she explained.

Despite the pressure that comes with bearing the title of co-valedictorians, both look to the future with hope and confidence, ready to make their mark in their chosen fields, thanks to MMSU’s quality of education.