SOSE Recognition of Distinguished Students 2023 honors outstanding science and engineering students from graduating Class of 2023

The School of Science and Engineering (SOSE) of Ateneo de Manila University held its SOSE Recognition of Distinguished Students 2023 program on 21 June 2023. The program, hosted at the Escaler Hall of the Science and Education Complex, celebrated the exceptional achievements of students from SOSE who are part of the Graduating Class of 2023.

At the event, the school recognized not only the students who had performed well in academic pursuits—such as those who were graduating with honors or whose research had been published—but also those who had won awards in athletics, the arts, and other fields. In addition, the school also recognized students who had taken leadership roles in various organizations and projects at the University.

The event kicked off with opening remarks by Dr Raphael A Guerrero PhD, Dean of the School of Science and Engineering, before proceeding with the recognition of the students.

The first batch of students to be recognized were athletes, performers, and competition winners. The response from these was delivered by David Demitri Africa, BS AMDSc-M DSc, who was commended for being part of the Ateneo Debate Society team that won at the World Universities Debating Championship 2023 in Madrid, Spain last 3 January 2023.

The next batch comprised undergraduate students whose research had been published in various journals. Delivering the response from these students was Neil Joshua P Limbaga, BS Computer Engineering, who was part of a group that worked on the “Development of an EEG-based Brain-Controlled System for a Virtual Prosthetic Hand.”

Following this, the school then recognized its student leaders—those who had taken leadership roles in various organizations and the school’s student council. Representing this group was Charles Denver M Opague, BS CH-MSE, who held various leadership roles within the Ateneo Chemistry Society and other organizations.

Students who were graduating with honors were the next to be recognized. The graduating Batch of 2023 has 17 students graduating Summa Cum Laude, 91 Manga Cum Laude, 170 Cum Laude, and 87 honorable mentions.

In addition, program awardees from the individual departments of SOSE were also recognized.

Responding on behalf of students graduating with honors and program awardees was Pamela Anne C Serrano, BS CS-DGDD, Summa Cum Laude.

Next up was the recognition of graduating graduate students. This included graduate scholars and graduate students whose research had been published in various journals and conferences.

The response for the graduate students was given by Tzodoq O Magbanua, MS in Biology, who had published 3 papers in the journals Aquaculture and Fisheries and Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems in 2022 and 2023. Magbanua's speech was delivered via pre-recorded video as he is currently continuing his post-graduate education in Japan.

Dr Roberto Martin N Galang, Officer-in-Charge of the Higher Education cluster concluded the event proper with closing remarks, commending the students and encouraging them to continue their work beyond the walls of Ateneo.

Following the program, a short lunch for the attendees was served at rooms 413 and 414 of the Convergent Technologies Center.