Over 300 graduate summa cum laude in UP Diliman

MANILA, Philippines — A record-breaking 305 students will graduate summa cum laude from the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City today.

Data from the UP Office of the University Registrar showed that about half of the 4,478 graduating students this year will finish with honors, led by the 305 summa cum laude graduates or those who obtained a general weighted average of at least 1.20. There will be 1,196 magna cum laude and 742 cum laude graduates.

The number of summa cum laude graduates this year surpassed the previous record of 150 last year. There were 28 in 2020 and 55 in 2019.

Of the total number graduating students, there are 3,359 undergraduate (including associate and certificate programs), 244 diploma, 793 masters and 82 doctorate students.

UP president Angelo Jimenez, who started his term in February, will be the commencement speaker, while political science graduate Jessie Malibiran Jr. will deliver the message on behalf of the graduates.

Last week, several colleges held recognition rites for their respective graduates.

Among the invited speakers were former vice president Leni Robredo for the College of Education and College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, multi-awarded journalist Jessica Soho for the College of Mass Communication, Nobel Prize laureate Maria Ressa for the School of Economics, National Artist for Music Ramon Santos for the College of Music, Supreme Court Associate Justice Marvic Leonen for the National College of Public Administration and Governance and international award-winning actress Dolly de Leon for the College of Arts and Letters.