Celebrating academic excellence and scholastic distinction, Latin honorees of Eastern Visayas State University (EVSU) – Main Campus were recognized during the 104th University Academic Recognition held on Thursday, June 25, at the Tacloban Convention Center.

Alongside their Latin distinctions, student-graduates also received the Presidential Academic Excellence Award, Commendation for Academic Excellence, Pacific Union Insurance Company Awards, and the Most Outstanding Student Award.

In her congratulatory message, Vice President for Students, Internationalization, and External Affairs Dr. Analyn Españo encouraged the honorees to remain prepared, emphasizing the importance of readiness when opportunities arise.

“Success is not being the smartest in the classroom. It is about being prepared when opportunity knocks and having the courage to open or answer the door,” she explained.

Serving as the Guest of Honor, Mr. Johny Chu Go shared five core values that he encouraged the honorees to carry as they continue pursuing their aspirations and future goals.

“My dear students, awardees, as you continue your journey, I hope you carry these five core values with you. Isaisip ninyo ang acronym na I.C.A.R.E. — ‘I’ for Integrity, ‘C’ for Compassion, ‘A’ for Accountability, ‘R’ for Respect, and ‘E’ for Evolution,” Go emphasized.

Moreover, Ashanti Lamata, in her valedictory address, reflected on the importance of collective support throughout every graduate’s journey, emphasizing that success is not achieved alone.

“If we are being honest, many of the things we have achieved today did not begin with our own confidence. Sometimes, they begin with someone else’s belief in us—a friend who cheered us on when we wanted to give up, a teacher who saw our potential but also our mistakes, and a parent who kept saying ‘Kaya mo iton’ even when you doubted yourself,” Lamata explained.

In an interview with The Industrial Wheel, Jesalyn A. Martinez from the Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship (BSE), who graduated Magna Cum Laude, shared that her achievement serves not only as a measure of success but also as a foundation for a greater purpose beyond graduation.

“I hope that I will not be remembered only for achieving this milestone. I hope to achieve more in the future, beyond what is expected of a Magna Cum Laude. I want to prove that it’s not a title alone to bear — that even while holding such a title, I can still excel in the real world, beyond the classroom,” Martinez expressed.

She added that behind the medals and achievements is a younger version of herself—a child who carried dreams, fears, and a longing for a complete family.

Meanwhile, the first day of the university’s 104th Commencement Exercises followed in the afternoon, with graduates from the School of Arts and Sciences (SAS) and the School of Education (SED) receiving their degrees.

Article by Carl Dotingco