Fifteen students received the highest academic honors of summa cum laude at the 97th General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines Diliman (UPD) held on April 27 at the University Amphitheater.
The summa cum laude is awarded to graduates with a general weighted average (GWA) of l.20 or better. Of the top honors, three were conferred the degree of Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (BS MBB); another three a degree in Bachelor of Science in Economics (BS Econ) while two received the degree Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering (BS Ch E).
Leading the more than 4,000 graduates was Daryl Patrick G. Evangelista, BS Econ with a GWA of 1.072, followed by Jerome de Castro Sanchez, Bachelor of Arts in European Languages (1.083) and Bernadette Lopez, Bachelor of Science in Business Economics (1.109). The other summa cum laude graduates were: Carla Kathryn D. Co, BS Ch E (1.122); Ma. Ana Micaela G. Chua, Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature (1.148); Christina Lora M. Leyson, BS MBB (1.164); Glaiza Lyn A. Tan, BS MBB (1.168); Andrea Francesca M. Salvador, BS MBB (1.172) and Dan Christian de Ocampo Llaneta, BS Computer Science (1.174).
Two candidates had a GWA of 1.176, namely Gabriela M. Francisco, Bachelor of Music in Voice and Marione Allen R. Ozaeta, Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. The other top honors were: Brylle Lewylle S. Baluyot, BS Econ (1.177); Marian Angelica K. Panganiban, BS Econ (1.183); Dennis Cristoffer B. Tagaza, BS Ch E (1.187) and Dorothy Anne B. Caligado, Bachelor of Science in Statistics (1.199).
Francisco delivered the response on behalf of the graduating class.
In February, Francisco and Co received UPD’s Gawad Chanselor Natatanging Mag-Aaral award. Leyson and Llaneta, on the other hand, were among the recipients of the 2008 BPI –DOST Science Awards.
The commencement rites carried the theme “100 Years of Excellence, Leadership and Service” in celebration of the University’s centenary and featured UP Regent Abraham F. Sarmiento.