UST honors outstanding learners for 2014-2015

Last May 8, 2015 (Friday), the University of Santo Tomas feted its student achievers through the various distinctions conferred in the Student Awards Day 2015, held at the Quadricentennial Pavilion.            This year’s inspirational speaker was nationally recognized journalist Mr. Arnold “Igan” Clavio of GMA-7. Mr. Clavio was a working student in the University, where he earned his AB Journalism degree in 1987.           

Rector’s Academic Award            

In recognition of consistent academic excellence, the University of Santo Tomas recognized each faculty, college, and institute’s “valedictorian,” the graduating student who garnered the highest general weighted average among all members of the graduating class.            

Leading the batch is Bro. Valentinus Ruseno, O.P., of the Ecclesiastical Faculty of Sacred Theology. Being the valedictorian of Batch 2015, Bro. Ruseno represented all awardees in his Response, in which he thanked the University administrators, faculty members, support staff and fellow students for the educative Thomasian experience. Ruseno was joined by the Rector’s awardees of the other faculties, colleges, and institutes:

Quezon Leadership Award            Named after one of the most prominent Thomasian alumni, the Quezon Leadership Award recognizes a deserving officer of a duly recognized organization for his/her singular ability to lead and organize activities of meaningful significance to the entire University. This is also conferred upon a student who has shown exceptional leadership in noteworthy organizations outside the University. This year, twenty-one (21) leaders were recognized:

Pope Leo XIII Community Development Award            

Individual students and organizations who demonstrate outstanding involvement in community development programs or services duly recognized by the Office for Community Development and the Office for Student Affairs are given this distinction, named after an esteemed former Pontiff who demonstrated unparalleled commitment to the betterment of the poor.  This year, four (4) individual and twenty (20) organizations were feted:

St. Dominic de Guzman Award            

Named after the Founder of the Order of Preachers, the St. Dominic de Guzman award recognizes exemplary student organizations who put together activities, apart from community service, of great significance to the entire  University.            This year, the University recognized sixteen (16) outstanding student organizations.

Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award            

Conferred upon individuals and groups, the Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award, named after the University’s Founder, recognizes outstanding achievers who brought pride through the University through their noteworthy participation/performance in regional, national or international engagements. Fifty-two (52) individual and twenty-two (22) awardees received distinction this year:

Tradition of Excellence Award            

This award is conferred upon a student organization who has shown exemplary performance on a sustained level, as evidenced by the conferment of the same award for five (5) consecutive years.            This year, the lone awardee is the UST Architecture Network from the UST College of Architecture.