AS MMSU celebrated its 38^th Foundation Anniversary, very good news was revealed: the university ranked first among the top-performing nursing schools in the country, garnering a 100 percent passing rate in the November 2015 Nurse Licensure Examination administered by the Professional Regulation Commission. The national passing average is 49.26 percent, with 9,114 of 18,500 examinees making the cut. The 74 MMSU passers all belong to Class 2015, except one re-taker from Class 2010.

This achievement is made even sweeter by three MMSU graduates who made it to the top ten: Danah Mae Arzadon of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte who ranked sixth with an 85.20 percent rating, and Katrina Fagaragan and Regine Grace Pacunayen who both garnered the 10^th place with a rating of 84.4 percent. Fagaragan and Pacunayen are from Pinili and Batac, Ilocos Norte, respectively.

“I really didn’t expect to be a topnotcher, because the test was quite overwhelming,” beamed Arzadon in an interview. The cum laude graduate added that there were questions which were totally new to her and that she was not sure if her answers were correct. “But since it was a multiple choice type of examination, we got lucky that our answers were correct,” she laughed.

Asked of the number one factor that helped her hurdle the test, Fagaragan readily said, “Prayers coupled with hard work.” “We prayed a lot because prayers can move mountains. We slept in the right hour and woke up early to review,” she said. Pacunayen underscored the top-caliber education they received at MMSU, thanked their teachers, the MMSU administration, and the whole university community for their all-out support. “The examination was difficult, but we were confident because MMSU prepared us well, and also because of the prayers of our friends and family,” she noted.

Meanwhile, CHS Dean Manolita Crisostomo said that while she is overwhelmed by the results, she really expected it because the MMSU Nursing Batch 2015 was very disciplined and determined. It is the first time MMSU ranked first in the nurse licensure examination.

“We hope and pray to achieve this same glory in the succeeding years not only in the BS Nursing program but also in all other board examinations that MMSU graduates will be hurdling,” she enthused.

In their visit to the Office of the President on Jan. 11, the passers were warmly received by Dr. Prima Fe Franco, officer-in-charge. “Thank you for bringing great honor to our university and for reaffirming our tradition of excellence” Dr. Franco said. “We are very proud of you.” A testimonial program is in the works to honor the new nurses.

MMSU was joined at the number one spot by the University of Santo Tomas and Xavier University which also obtained 100 percent passing percentage. (By Reynaldo E. Andres and Herdy La. Yumul)