GeneSoc produces 19 new grads; five laudes and two MS

By: Sean Santos (Hybrizyme)


LOS BAÑOS, LAGUNA – On June 24 (Saturday), 19 members of The UPLB Genetics Society wear their sablays during the 45th Commencement Exercises of UPLB, signaling the culmination of their years of hardwork and perservance in the University. They are among the thousands of fresh graduates who will be part of the next set of leaders, scientists and educators who could change the nation and uplift the lives of the masses.

Among the 19 graduates of GeneSoc are 14 BS Biology students. Among these, six are Microbiology majors, namely: Nicole R. Espinas (Polylinker), Mary Faith Y. Adan (Proteasome), Patricia Rose A. Melanio (Proteasome), Keach Nicole F. Lotho (Riboswitch), Jerard Iane R. Monge (Riboswitch), and Jenica L. Salvatierra (Riboswitch).

The other five are Cell and Molecular Biology Majors who are: Paul Jhon P. Diezon (Phagemids), Nadine Q. Lutao (Riboswitch), Lorenzo Raphael M. Roxas (Riboswitch), Morel Dominic D. Umipon (Proteasome), and Mary Krystel V. Carmona (Proteasome).

The other BS Biology students are Rochelle B. Sarmiento (Polylinker) who has a major in Genetics, Pamela Ysabel B. Medoza (Cyclosome) in Zoology and Louis John Angelo Reaño (Iterons) in Ecology.

Also among the list are 3 Genes from the College of Agriculture. The two are BS Agriculture students namely: Jayson L. Gandia (Riboprobes) who has a major in Horticulture, and Heway Christian Serra (Phagemids) in Agronomy. The other one is Shaira Bañega (Polylinker) who took up BS Agricultural Biotechnology.

Meanwhile, Professor Jickerson P. Lado (Integrons) and John Carlo Marasigan (Euchromatin) graduate in UPLB for an MS in Genetics.

The five laudes

A total of five GeneSoc members were called on stage with a Latin honor after their names. Morel Dominic D. Umipon and Paul Jhon Diezon have a magna cum laude distinction while Rochelle B. Sarmiento, Mary Faith Y. Adan and Heway Christian L. Serra graduate as cum laude.

Morel Dominic D. Umipon, magna cum laude
Course: BS Biology – Major in Cell and Molecular Biology.
In 2015 and 2016, Umipon was ranked 3rd in the Top CAS Outstanding Students (Junior and Senior category). He is also a member of The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi.  In AY 2016-2017, he was elected as the Education Committee Head of GeneSoc. For his plans, he wants to pursue Medicine after he graduates.

Paul Jhon P. Diezon, magna cum laude
Course: BS Biology- Major in Cell and Molecular Biology
In 2016, Diezon was named as the Jose Rizal Model Student of the Philippines and CAS Most Outstanding Student. He also ranked 4th in the Top CAS Outstanding Students (Senior category). Due to his excellent academic performance, he was inducted as a member of the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society and The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. He also once became the Editor-In-Chief of GENEWS, the official publication of the organization. After graduation, Diezon plans to teach and earn a Master’s degree. He also wants to delve into cancer research.

Rochelle B. Sarmiento, cum laude
Course: BS Biology – Major in Genetics
In 2016, Sarmiento ranked 11th in the 2016 Top CAS Outstanding students. She is also a member of The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society for her exemplary academics. She also held several roles in the organization. In AY 2015-2016, she was elected as the head of the Outreach Committee. The following school year, she was elected as the Public Relations Officer, becoming part of the Executive Committee. She plans to go to Medical school the next year.

Mary Faith Adan, cum laude
Course: BS Biology – Major in Microbiology
Adan is the recipient of the 2017 Drina Sta. Iglesia Best Undergraduate Thesis Award (Microbiology). Due to her excellence in her studies, she was inducted as member of The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society. She was a member of the Documentation Committee ever since she became part of GeneSoc. She plans to pursue research in the Microbiology field and desires to contribute in advancing the fields of science and technology in the country.

Heway Christian Serra, cum laude
Course: BS Agriculture – Major in Agronomy
Serra’s academic excellence also led him to be inducted as a member of The International Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and the Phi Sigma Biological Sciences Honor Society. He was once appointed as the Technicals Committee Head of National Intercollegiate Genetics Quiz Contest in 2014.

Prof. Lado and Mr. Marasigan graduates with an MS degree
Prof. Jickerson P. Lado, the head of the Student Organization and Activities Division of the Office of Student Affairs (SOAD-OSA) and a member of the Genetics and Molecular Biology Division (GMBD-IBS) faculty, graduates with an MS degree in Genetics – minor in Biochemistry. In 2013 and 2015, he was awarded as one of the Outstanding Teachers of IBS (Institute level). He was also given the UPLB Outstanding Teacher Award (Biological Sciences Junior Faculty category) in 2014. In his undergrad, Prof. Lado took up BS Biology where he majored in Cell and Molecular Biology and graduated as cum laude.

Aside from Prof. Lado, John Carlo M. Marasigan also graduates with an MS degree in Genetics. Marasigan is a University Researcher at the Institute of Plant Breeding of the UPLB College of Agriculture and Food Sciences. He attended the Cornell Alliance for Science Asia Leadership Course in Thailand last January 2016. 



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