“…The importance of rewarding academic achievement, of recognizing it as a valid pursuit by itself and in itself, lies not in the achievement alone.
What is more important is the process that goes on as a student achieves from day to day. More than being summa cum laude, it is becoming summa cum laude. More than being here, it is in becoming qualified to be invited here.
That process, ladies and gentlemen, is called the pursuit of excellence. Not just excellence by other people’s standards, but the true excellence one feels achieved when one has done his/her best. The consistency in effort, the single-mindedness of ideal across the disciplines that we study, the relentless passion to deliver one’s best – these are what are being honored today.
The pursuit of excellence is never irrelevant. It is what drives the progress of nations. It is what elicits the respect of our neighbors. It is the reason why we are here.
Next year, most of us will leave the University for what is called “real adult life,†the real world out there.. Some will join industry. Others will join the government. Still others will go into other fields. The rest will stay to teach and do graduate studies. There may be no grades nor academic honors outside the academe. But that does not matter.
Our passion for excellence will keep us relevant even outside the University. It will be our best weapon against harsh realities and vicissitudes out there. It will make us the best we can be. Managers who lead. Politicians who deliver. Lawyers who win landmark decisions. Inventors who change the world. Teachers who inspire to greatness.
We will become successful farmers, well-read authors, sought-after consultants, great parents. If we inspire people to be like us in the way we do things, they will be more productive and successful.
And maybe we can rebuild this nation, regain our neighbors’ respect from those old days when we were the most advanced country in this part of the world. Those old days when we, as a nation, honored passion for excellence, and held academic achievement in awe.
Let those days begin again. Today.”
really big beautiful words from a mere wisp of a girl… the child prodigy mikaela irene fudolig in her response at this afternoon’s tri-honor society’s recognition of outstanding scholars.
take note: the active progressive (becoming) vs. the passive (being). the continuing process is also a passion. hence, the passionate pursuit of excellence. hence, the passionate pursuit of excellence in every undertaking, not merely in academe– that is becoming summa cum laude (even without a general weighted average of 1.104!).
dr. ramon acoymo, dean of the college of music, a phi kappa phi member, was a summa in this afternoon’s musical performance — rock music and classical songs that brought the house down. yet he was magna cum laude in biology.
not to forget that the guest of honor himself, the chancellor, a math and finance major, is a concert singer…for charity causes. that seems another mark of the scholars — straddles several areas of excellence.
another striking development — ariel lopez, also a frontrunner with his 1.105, will teach at his home department, history. undaunted by the starvation pay of the up faculty!
finally, from the ranks of the phi kappa phi officers, the president-elect gilda rivero, will become the up mindanao chancellor starting march 1st. congratulations!