THIRTY-SIX STUDENTS from the Faculty of Arts and Letters (AB) and its Pax Romana unit were recognized for academic excellence and extracurricular achievements during the UST Student Awards Day 2026 on Friday, May 22.
The figure is more than twice the total number of Artlets feted in last year’s awards, which honored 16 students from the faculty and the Asian Studies Society.
Creative Writing senior Brandon Lance Capiña received the Rector’s Award for Academic Excellence after garnering a 1.064 general weighted average, the highest among graduating Artlets for the academic year 2025-2026.
It is the second straight year that the AB valedictorian comes from the Creative Writing department, after the class of 2025’s Kazzandra Ysabel Baysa achieved a 1.106 general weighted average.
Nine Artlets received the Quezon Leadership Award for exemplary leadership inside and outside the University, including Central Student Council (CSC) President Legal Management junior Annie Nicholle Agon.
The other Quezon awardees were senior Katrina April Ginete and juniors Dereck Jude Lorenzo, Ronan Timothy Asturias and Sean Matthew Parra from the Asian Studies department; Communication seniors Anne Louisse Almayda and Jake Xavier Caraan; Behavioral Science fourth-year Dianna Allen Eusebio; Philosophy junior John Ruffith Bertuflo; and Political Science senior Heavenly Face Nerizon.
Artlets’ Dean Prof. Melanie Turingan emphasized that awards are just a product of hard work, but students are measured by how they relate to people and remain humble despite everything they have achieved.
“I am praying that the students would continue to still prosper academically and in terms of extracurricular activities because that’s the reason why they are here—let the college journey be fun, interesting and memorable,” Turingan told The Flame.
The faculty dean added that she felt overwhelmed and proud of the students’ hard work within their chosen fields of expertise.
Several Tiger Media Network (TMN) members were also conferred the Quezon Award for earning multiple titles under the University’s broadcasting arm, including seniors Coleen Jeanelle Hufanda and Ofelia Valmocina and junior Joaquin Stephen Cabarles of the Communication department.
Cabarles was named runner-up for Best Video Execution at the International Student Broadcasting Championship (ISBC) 2025. Tiger Radio head Hufanda led the network to a finalist finish at the last ISBC for Station of the Year and the Intercollegiate Broadcasting System (IBS) Awards 2025 for Best College/University Radio Station, while Valmocina earned the Best Business Director for Television title at the same IBS Awards.
The Pope Leo XIII Award for community engagement initiatives was awarded to Communication junior Zyryzx Angeles Bartolome and Sociology senior Antonette Julianne Salazar under the individual category.
Meanwhile, the Pax Romana Artlets unit secured two distinctions: the Pope Leo XIII Award’s group category and the St. Dominic de Guzman Award for organizing values-driven student programs aligned with Thomasian formation.
The Benavides Outstanding Achievement Award, which is given to those who have excelled in national and international competitions, was bestowed upon senior Danica Jane Araoarao of the Political Science department, Legal Management sophomore Athena Alessandra Cruz and freshman Faye Maggay, and Asian Studies students Parra, sophomore Arwinn Saplor and fourth-year Joss Gabriel Oliveros, also the associate editor of The Flame.
Meanwhile, nine Artlets were Benavides recipients under its group category, namely Araoarao, Claudette Francesca Bayabay, Aneika Thyler Bautista, Caine Olo, Kyle Gabriel Victoria, Cristina Kassandra Mercado, Marlney Monique Causing and Edrisse Gianna Marcella Dela Cruz and Ralent Penilla of The Varsitarian.
Communication junior Luisa Marie Bunquin, fourth-year TMN members Amara Gelsey Medrano and Valmocina from the Department of Communication and Creative Writing fourth-year student Joseph Earl Quintana received the Pope John Paul II Outstanding Achievement Award, which acknowledges students for their notable performance in the field of sports and arts competitions.
Communication juniors John Maverick Morales, Ana Barbara Cassandra Tumala and Brianna Jaydine Valdez were also granted the same award.
The St. Albertus Magnus Award for outstanding research achievement was presented to Philosophy sophomore Sean Ethan Capisanan, among other recipients with recognized studies.
Allyah Amboy from the College of Commerce and Business Administration was honored as the university-wide valedictorian after obtaining the highest general weighted average of 1.058 among the class of 2026.
The Student Awards ceremony is held annually at the Quadricentennial Pavilion, where student-awardees are commended for their academic distinctions and extracurricular accomplishments. F
