Biology student breaks highest grade record in post-war UP

(Updated 8:26 p.m.) A BS Biology graduating student from University of the Philippines in Diliman has earned the highest weighted average grade (WAG) in the university's history since World War II.

Tiffany Grace Uy, who will graduate summa cum laude this June, has a GWA of 1.004, besting the 1.016 recorded by John Gabriel Pelias, a BS Mathematics graduate, in 2011.

UP records show the highest WAG ever earned by a UP graduate was 1.0 — the highest grade a student can receive — made by Exequiel Sevilla, a BS Business Administration, in 1927.

Uy and 28 other graduates with the distinction of summa cum laude will lead first UP Diliman batch to graduate in June. A summa cum laude is one who has a weighted average grade (WAG) of 1.20 or better.

UP Diliman said the general commencement exercises — its 104th graduation ceremony — will be held at 7:30 a.m. on June 28, Sunday, at the University Amphitheater.

"This year’s rite is the first to be held in June, following the University’s academic calendar shift from June to August in 2014," the UP said in a news release.

This batch also has 248 magna cum laude, candidates with a WAG of up to 1.45; and 920 cum laude, up to 1.75.

Of the candidates for graduation, 3,491 will receive undergraduate degrees and 940 their graduate degrees. Of the 940, 84 will be conferred their doctoral degrees by being hooded on stage.

Summa cum laude

Those graduating summa cum laude include:

- Tiffany Grace Uy, BS Biology, WAG of 1.004
- Emir-Deogene Mendoza, BA Public Administration, WAG of 1.101
- Gabriella Victoria Timbancaya, BA Psychology, WAG of 1.107
- Marielle Antoinette Zosa, BA Philosophy, 1.125
- Bryan Casper Chan, BS Computer Science, 1.126
- Kenneth Anthony Roquid, BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 1.135
- Vincent Oville, BS Geography, 1.136
- Ma. Patricia Riego de Dios, BS Psych, 1.139
- Liezel Tamon, BS MBB, 1.144
- Miguel Niccolo Rallonza, BA Anthropology, 1.149

- Janssen Kotah, BS Psych, 1.15
- Genesis Ijay Leal, BA Political Science, 1.154
- Ardea Licuanan, BS Bio, 1.158
- Steven Michael Resma, BS Chemical Engineering, 1.166
- Camille Patricia Calma, BS Business Administration, 1.166
- Ma. Patricia Nabong, BA Film, 1.168
- Christy Eunice Reyes, BS Civil Engineering, 1.173
- Martin Daniel Qui, BS MBB, 1.173
- Faye Zipagan, BS Psych, 1.175
- Samantha Marie Sundiam, BS Econ, 1.18

- Jose Lorenzo Ferrer, BS MBB, 1.18
- Dominic Albao, BS MBB, 1.184
- Meg Reganon, BS Economics, 1.185
- Janelle Rodine Carrillo, BS Business Administration and Accountancy, 1.191
- Riana Sandra Chua, BSBAA, 1.191
- Finness Calacal, Bachelor of Fine Arts Painting, 1.191
- Ernest Nathan Nogales, BSChE, 1.195
- Maria Carla Buenaflor, BS Psych, 1.196
- Sir Albertti Flores, BA European Languages, 1.198.

Speakers

Meanwhile, Riego De Dios will speak on behalf of the graduating class.

Education Secretary Armin Luistro will keynote the ceremonies. He chairs the Private Education Assistance Committee of the Fund for Assistance to Private Education. —Joel Locsin/KBK, GMA News