A total of nine hundred ninety-one (991) Senior High School (SHS) graduates of the University of Saint Louis (USL) received their diplomas during the first SHS Commencement Exercises on Thursday, May 31 at the James Ter Meer Gymnasium.
The Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics ─ Non-Health (STEM-NH) dominated the said commencement with a total of 365 graduates followed by the Accountancy, Business and Management (ABM) with 337 graduates. The STEM-Health and Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strands produced 214 and 75 graduates, respectively.
Ms. Mary Ann A. Baquiran, MAEd, principal of the High School department, presented the 991 candidates for graduation to University President Delailah B. Valencia. Dr. Valencia confirmed the 991 Grade 12 students as graduates after evaluation that they satisfactorily complied and completed all the requirements of the Department of Education (DepEd) and the University.
After the awarding of medals to outstanding graduates, Mrs. Janette B. Taguba, the commencement speaker and Louisian alumna, inspired the graduating students with her life story as she traversed her journey and thrived for excellence.
Taguba said to the graduates that they are lucky enough because of the technological advancements that they have been enjoying using. Unlike when she was a student, according to her, she spent much of her time in the library to read current events and search for information she needed for her assignments.
“The scarcity of things didn’t hinder me to succeed. I have succeeded despite poverty. I have books. I have with me my teachers,” the guest speaker told the graduates.
Meanwhile, Abigail T. Adducul, HUMSS graduate with honors, expressed her words of gratitude to her parents, teachers and to the USL administration.
“Delving into the realms of the University of Saint Louis as a senior high school student offered me tremendous opportunities to acquire personhood and embody maturity through cultivating myself with its core values,” Adducul said.
“Senior High School became an avenue for me to get out of my shell, roam around, meet a variety of people, and befriend them. It paved the way for me to create euphoric and remarkable memories that will remain in my heart,” she added.
Adducul concluded her speech by challenging her batch mates to always manifest the Louisian spirit, embark themselves in a new whole chapter, and espouse the virtues imbibed in their senior high school life.
With the number of graduates, the said commencement was divided into two batches: the HUMSS and STEM-NH graduates had their march in the morning; STEM-H and ABM graduates in the afternoon.
The graduation event is another milestone of the University as it successfully primed the SHS pioneer batch to be holistically ready in battling for their dreams and in facing any challenges ahead of them.
