UP has 9 summa cum laude

Nine summa cum laude led some 5,000 candidates for graduation at the 91st General Commencement Exercises of the University of the Philippines yesterday at the campus in Diliman, Quezon City.

This was the first time in the 91 years of the university’s history, that it has produced such an impressive number of summa cum laude.

The top honors were awarded to graduates with a general weighted average (GWA) of not lower than 1.2.

Leading the candidates was Dionne Marie Sanchez, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Accountancy (BS- BAA), with a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.129.

Karen Kate David, who finished her Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Bio-technology with a GWA of 1.178, delivered the graduating class’ valedictory address.

Sharing the top honors were Eleanor Tan (BS Economics, 1.168), Leslie Ann Tan (BS Business Economics, 1.163), Ericson Chua (BS Computer Engineering, 1.175), Duke Bajenting (BS-BAA, 1.179), Devidre Nicole Hilario (BS Business Administration, 1.184), Simone-Marie Hilario (BS BA, 1.19) and Dorothy Kristine Manalo (BA Philosophy, 1.197).