DR CLYDE M. SAKAMOTO, chancellor of the University of Hawai‘i-Maui College (UH-MC) will address the latest batch of MMSU graduates during their commencement exercises today, March 26, 4 p.m., at the Sunken Garden.

Sakamoto will lead in the distribution of diplomas to the members of MMSU Class of 2009 comprising 1,537 graduates from the nine colleges of the university including the Graduate School.

Sakamoto holds an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, a master’s degree in education from the same university, and a doctor’s degree in education from the George Washington University. He also earned credentials at the Institute of World Affairs and attended Santa Clara Law School.

He has been at the helm of UH-MC since 1991 after spending a year as interim provost. He also spent two years as executive director of Projects 2 & 4, which brought baccalaureate development to the University of Hawai‘i community colleges. He previously served as dean of instruction at Maui.

Apart from his responsibilities at UH, Sakamoto was director of the Office of International Services for the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges, congressional fellow in the office of Sen. Daniel K. Inouye, vice president for international marketing with Educators of the Pacific, and director of the International Language Institute and English Language Laboratory. He has served on Western Association of Schools and Colleges accreditation teams and American Association of Community and Junior Colleges commissions, including one aimed at improving minority education. His first overseas assignment was as a peace corps volunteer in India, where he was elected to the All-India PCV Steering Committee.

Active in numerous Maui community and economic development organizations, Sakamoto serves as principal investigator on a $10-M Federal Rural Development Grant and a $3-M grant for the Native Hawaiian Scholarship Program. He has helped secure more than $13-M in Rural Development funds since 1997, and has also obtained and administered grants related to telecommunication, infrastructure, gender equity, Hawaiian education, and sustainable technologies.

Sakamoto’s visit to MMSU follows the signing of a Memorandum of Intent (MOI) between MMSU and UH-MC, Nov. 16 last year at Maui. The MOI is aimed at promoting the advancement of international understanding, dissemination of learning, strengthening of cultural ties, and the improvement of educational and professional training programs of both schools. A group of UH-MC administrators, faculty, and staff visited MMSU in December.

This morning at the Teatro Ilocandia, he and President Miriam E. Pascua of MMSU signed a Memorandum of Agreement to concretize the plans made in November 2009.

Graduating as lone magna cum laude, Leophil P. Rasco of the B.S. Accountancy program leads MMSU Class of 2010. He obtained a general weighted average of 1.36. He is from Brgy. Naguirangan, City of Batac and the eldest child of Mr. Diego R. Rasco, a fireman detailed in Banna town, and the former Cleotilde D. Padulip. His brother Felmar, 17, is a first year computer science student at the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), while youngest sibling Nestor is a junior at the Philippine Science High School-San Ildefonso Campus.

He graduated with distinction at the MMSU Laboratory High School-Science Curriculum in 2006 and also with the same recognition at the Don Mariano Marcos Memorial Elementary School in 2002. In college, he was a consistent university scholar (US) except in two semesters - second year first sem. and fourth year first sem. - where he was a college scholar. He did not, however, avail of the benefits of being a US, as he was a Commission on Higher Education National Study Program scholar from first to fourth year.

Unlike his predecessors - the top accountancy graduates in years past - who grabbed employment opportunities at the accounting firm Sycip, Gorres, and Velayo, Rasco intends to enter Punongbayan and Araullo, which concentrates on auditing, his field of interest. He said he will rest for one day after graduation, and will immediately start preparing for the certified public accountant examination to be held in October.

Fifty-six students graduate with cum laude honors, of which 27 come from College of Business, Economics, and Accountancy (CBEA); 12, College of Health Sciences (CHS); 10, College of Teacher Education (CTE); 3, College of Industrial Technology; 2, College of Aquatic Sciences and Applied Technology CASAT; 2, CAS; and 1, College of Engineering (CoE).

Graduating cum laude are: Mae Dawn Rhea C. Pambid (1.54), accountancy; Sarrah Jane M. Semana (1.55), management accounting; Eloida Joan B. Manuel (1.55), accountancy; Katrina Jones E. Curimao (1.56), management accounting; Efren Jonicel D. Domingo (1.57), education; Melvin A. Lorenzo (1.58), education; Madelyne B. Rosario (1.60), accountancy; Mylene R. Diza (1.60), industrial education; Brian Billy M. Piniera (1.60), nursing; Jerick Christian P. Dagdagan (1.60), fisheries; Christine Mae R. Bersalona (1.61), accountancy; Joemar D. Adaon (1.61), electrical engineering; Aldean Xavier E. Rosino (1.62), accountancy; Ina Feliza A. Ramajo (1.62), pharmacy;

Jonarex L. Morella (1.62), elementary education; Prince Lord S. Andres (1.62), accountancy; Faith Hyacinth M. Balisacan (1.63), economics; Kristy Fleur D. Salvador (1.63), education; Zeus Lord Angel M. Alcaraz (1.64), nursing; Maynard M. Lagmay (1.64), management accounting; Arnel Jordan B. Domingo (1.65), education; Ralph A. Giron (1.65), nursing; Renier D. Guerrero (1.66), education; Marester M. Ramos (1.66), education; Chris B. Cantor (1.66), marine biology; Mayleen Grace L. Sadang (1.67), management accounting; Jeremy V. Daquioag (1.67), accountancy; Marc Jann M. Paz (1.68), nursing; Kristine T. Bactin (1.68), accountancy; John Bryan B. Rasos (1.68), education;

Roel P. Tabuyo (1.69), industrial technology; Verwin A. Aguda (1.70), management; Jenny Rose B. Palo (1.70), accountancy; Winie Joy B. Castillo (1.70), accountancy; Chrissie Laine C. Tayamen (1.70), nursing; Meliza C. Seguritan (1.70), management accounting; Ma. Khristial B. Suga (1.71), accountancy; Marife M. Novero (1.71), English studies; Roderic V. Sadian (1.71), management accounting; Khrishnaleen P. Cariaga (1.71), accountancy; Ryan M. Yago (1.72), industrial technology; Daniel Karlo Guerrero (1.72), computer science; Kennedy T. Origenes (1.72), elementary education; Benelyn S. Basilio (1.73), management accounting; Jackielou C. Valderama (1.73), management;

Ethel Jane Q. Malicad (1.73), nursing; Michael John R. Bagaoisan (1.74), nursing; Rachelle I. Anua (1.75), education; Fritzie May T. Rubio (1.75), nursing; Marivick G. Doroni (1.75), nursing; Karl Owen V. Ramirez (1.75), accountancy; and Joanna L. Tadena (1.75), accountancy.

Of the 1,537 graduates this year, 363 - the biggest number - come from the College of Health Sciences which offers nursing, pharmacy, and physical therapy programs.

The college with the second biggest number of graduates is CBEA with 298. This is followed by CIT with 279; CTE, 239; CoE, 154; CAS, 93; College of Agriculture and Forestry, 66; and Graduate School, 36. The college with the least number of graduates is CASAT. It offers programs in fisheries and marine biology.

Meanwhile, the nursing program holds the distinction of having the most number of graduates with 189. This is followed by: industrial technology with 245; elementary education, 137; secondary education, 102; and pharmacy, 76. The least number of graduates come from the agricultural technology, ceramic engineering, and marine biology programs, each with three graduates.

Receiving their diplomas this year are the first batch of graduates under the Islamic Studies and Arabic Language specialization under the elementary education program. The 13 graduates are based in Baguio City.

In 2007, the Department of Education selected MMSU as partner-university in the Accelerated Teacher Education Program (ATEP) - a strategy of the Basic Education Assistance for Mindanao (BEAM) Project funded by the Australian Government. This is aimed at the professionalization of azatids (Muslim teachers) to meet the teacher supply for Arabic language and Islamic values education in the public schools and the demands for better teacher qualification in the madaris, the Islamic private school system.

MMSU is one of five HEIs in Luzon, and the only one in the Ilocos Region, accredited as ATEP-BEAM partner-university.