In a bid to celebrate the brilliance of the brightest stars of the science community, the Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) honored 236 outstanding science scholars who graduated with honors for the school year 2014-2015.
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| A DOST scholar-graduate in the graduate scholarship program pose for a photo with DOST Usec. Rowena Cristina Guevara, DOST Secretary Mario Montejo and SEI Director Josette Biyo |
Ninety six (96) honorees from the national capital region and Region 4A attended the ceremony.
For the undergraduate scholarships, 65 honor graduates under the DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship—the agency’s pioneer scholarship program for undergraduates—were recognized which listed three summa cum laude, 16 magna cum laude, 45 cum laude, one honorable mention, and one early-graduate.
Likewise, the Republic Act 7687 or the Science and Technology Scholarship Act of 1994 produced 107 scholar graduates with honors headlined by 25 magna cum laude, 78 cum laude, and four with academic distinction.
As for the graduate scholarships, a total of eight Masters and 38 Doctoral students—with three magna cum laude and 11 cum laude—graduated under the Accelerated Science and Technology Human Resource Development Program (ASTHRDP). This Program is a unified and innovative human resource development strategy aimed at hastening the production of highly trained scientists by awarding MS and PhD scholarship grants to eligible individuals who will fill in the gaps of identified areas of science and technology. Under the program, nine scholars finished cum laude, and one as an academic excellence awardee.
On the other hand, the Engineering Research and Development for Technology (ERDT) program—a graduate scholarship program in priority engineering courses and related field—recorded 10 PhD graduates.
One PhD scholar also graduated under the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development (PCAARRD) Scholarship Program.
At the In Touch with Excellence Awarding Ceremony, DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo applauded the scholar-graduates for achieving excellence in their respective S&T programs and referred to them as welcome additions to the growing community of scientists, engineers, and innovators whom the country expect to contribute in national development.
“DOST is seeing the gains of supporting the education of deserving and gifted students in S&T that is why we commit to strengthen the impact of the scholarship program by expanding its coverage in the next years,” Montejo remarked.
He later invited the scholar-graduates to be part of the workforce that will “propel the country to greater heights” through science and technology.
SEI Director Dr. Josette Biyo also urged the honorees to continue learning and promoted the Institute’s graduate scholarships available in highly specialized fields in the sciences and engineering.
“The world of work would be harder, for sure, but as DOST scholar-graduates you are primed to maintain the excellence you’ve shown for most of your student life. Don’t be scared in going after big things. After all, that’s where DOST scholars are known for,” she added.
In closing, Ernest Nathan Nogales, a BS Chemistry summa cum laude graduate from the University of the Philippines Diliman urged his co-honorees to embody the phrase “serve the people” in its fullest sense.
“If we think we will serve for just 5 years and (say) “that’s it, I’m free from the bond” (then) we’re completely missing the point,” said Nogales. “Don’t think about the 5 years. Don’t even think about the bond.”
“Let us serve the people, not out of duty, but out of love,” he furthered.
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