Garnering a Cumulative General Point Average (CGPA) of 1.04821, Sarah Jane M. Navia, a BS Philosophy major in Applied Ethics from the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS), led the Class of 2026 during the 56th commencement ceremony of Mindanao State University - Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), held in the university gymnasium on Wednesday, July 29.
Delivering a stirring address that challenged her peers to measure success not by status but by service, she invoked the metaphor of a chair, which was a classic object of inquiry in philosophical classes, zooming into questions of essence and purpose.
“When we finally take our seats, the world will offer us easy answers that the higher the chair, the greater the success, and that excellence belongs to the individual. But may we never become so comfortable that we grow indifferent to those who are still standing,” Navia expressed.
Her speech resonated with calls to reject indifference, confront injustice, and champion the vulnerable, and called on graduates that occupying seats of privilege comes with the responsibility to uplift others.
“May no chair, no ivory tower become so high that we can no longer see those who are left on the ground, in the grassroots. For what good is power if it no longer protects the powerless, what good is knowledge if it no longer compels us to care, and what good is excellence if it begins and ends only with ourselves?” she added.
Navia emphasized that education is not meant to separate scholars like her from the world’s realities but to bring them on the frontline to do more than excellence but also question the systems to whom it truly serves.
CASS graduates also bagged Leadership and Activity Distinction Awards in different categories.
Jovan Virtudazo (BA Sociology) clinched the highly coveted and prestigious University Student Leadership Award, receiving a plaque of recognition and a monetary incentive. Jovan also strutted the stage to receive the award, carrying the trans flag, an advocacy she carried in her enduring years of student service.
John Vincent Balustre (BA Sociology) was also named the Institute Journalism Awardee, Angelou Bocado (BA Panitikan) for the Institute Dance Award - Male Category, and Katirina Kate Barroga (BA English Language Studies) for the Instrument Award - Female Category.
Realization of Someone’s Dreams
Chancellor Alizedney M. Ditucalan opened the ceremony by naming the graduates Batch Pangarap, declaring that “the dream to change lives begins with the courage to dream differently.”
He emphasized that success should not be measured solely by personal achievement but by the opportunities created for others, treating the culmination of the students’ years in the university as not only the fulfillment of their own dreams but also the realization of the aspirations shared by their parents, families, and the country.
This year’s commencement rites marked a historic milestone as 693 first-generation college graduates were recognized and became the first recipients of the ARAP stole—a ceremonial stole woven with the Meranaw word arap, meaning to hope or pray. The stole symbolizes the university’s commitment to transformative reforms that put premium on inclusivity and social mobility through education.
The Class of 2026 also produced 2,428 graduates with 1,598 Latin honorees: 61 Summa Cum Laudes, 713 Magna Cum Laudes, and 824 Cum Laudes. The College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) contributed a strong contingent, with 521 graduates, including 467 Latin honorees: 24 Summa Cum Laudes, 219 Magna Cum Laudes, and 224 Cum Laudes, underscoring its tradition of academic excellence and social impact.
Moreover, the College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) honored 34 postgraduate completers, including 13 doctoral graduates and 16 master’s graduates. Among the master’s degree recipients were two graduates from the Master of Public Administration Joint-Degree Program with Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY). In addition, 5 graduates earned their Certificate of Government Management.
The commencement exercise was graced by its keynote speaker, Ambassador Chantale Wong, former U.S. Ambassador and Executive Director of the Asian Development Bank.
Wong urged graduates to anchor their careers in public service, reminding them that education is both a privilege and a responsibility. She shared four guiding principles: Passion, Patience, Perseverance, and Partnership, encouraging the graduates to practice them with purpose as they step beyond the university.
“You’ve had the privilege of an education at one of the best technological universities in this country. Your family invested in you; your government has invested in you. I urge you to invest some of what you’ve been given back into public service. There is no higher calling than being asked to help solve the hardest problems your fellow citizens face,” Wong said.
Meanwhile, Eurayle Kyrie B. Abad of the Bachelor of Elementary Education–Language Education was named the Class Salutatorian, and James P. Marcela of the Bachelor of Science in Physics followed suit as the Class First Honorable Mention.
Written by Jocel Mae Latris and Bea Faye Eumague
Photos by Samuel Adrian Guerra and Ezer Neil Pasco
Post a Comment
Any comments and feedbacks? Share us your thoughts!