THE UNIVERSITY posted a higher passing rate in the May board exams for certified public accountants, again exceeding the poor national passing rate with 70 per cent or 59 out of 84 UST examinees making the cut.
UST ranked first among schools with 51-99 examinees and improved on last year’s 48 per cent passing mark, in which 41 out of 86 examinees passed the board exam.
Nationwide, 1,406 out of 4,654 examinees or 30.21 per cent passed, better than last year’s passing rate of 23.56 per cent (1,253 out of 5,318).
Even if Thomasians failed to land in the top 10, Accountancy Dean Jose Ireneo was still pleased with the exam results.
“If I were to choose, I would prefer to have more passers than to have a top-ranking passer. But of course, I would always prefer to have a topnotcher and at the same time a high over-all passing rate,” Ireneo said.
Ireneo clarified that May is not the exam-taking period for most Thomasians accounting graduates and that the results of the May 2007 exam should not be compared to the October 2006 results. Since the College of Accountancy holds its graduation ceremonies every May, most of the graduates take the exam in October.
The last Thomasian to top the May exam was Jhoanna Go, a magna cum laude who graduated in 2003 and took the May 2005 exam. Go is one of only three CPA board topnotchers so far produced by UST.
Top accountancy graduates awarded
Meanwhile, seven accountancy graduates were given awards for leadership and academic excellence in the Alfredo M. Velayo-UST College of Accountancy’s Golden Abacus Awards last May 30 at the Velayo-Sycip Multi-Purpose Hall.
The top three graduates of Batch 2007, Rosylyn L. Ramirez, Catherine Beatrice O. Kingkay, and Diana C. Monteros, received the Golden Abacus Award for Academic Excellence.
Officers of the Accountancy Student Council namely: Jayner S. Cruz (president), Joseph Paulo T. Cabello (vice-president), and Alan Carlo C. Dazo (assistant treasurer), and Pax Romana president Azerina M. Bundoc, were given the Golden Abacus Award for Leadership Excellence.
The Golden Abacus Award, the highest award given to students who have excelled in both academics and leadership, was given to Ramirez, a magna cum laude graduate and assistant secretary of the College student council. She was also a recipient of the Rector’s Award for Academic Excellence.
In the leadership excellence category, five college organizations, namely: Pax Romana, the Junior Philippine Institute of Accountants, Scarlet, Community Achievers, and the Red Cross Youth Council nominated at least three students. The nominees were screened by the Accountancy Student Council. Those who passed the initial screening were then submitted to the final selection committee composed of Accountancy Dean Jose Ireneo, Regent Fr. Isaias D. Tiongco, O.P., and College Secretary Josephine G. Relis.
Ireneo said that the Golden Abacus Award will motivate students to work harder and excel in both academics and extra-curricular activities.
“I am sure the students who will stay behind will somehow be encouraged to perform well upon knowing that recognition is being given to our outstanding graduates,” he said.
This is great news for UST.
Congratulations to all passing candidates – and to the University as well – from Bisk Education. Passing the CPA Exam, as you know, is not a walk in the park. This accomplishment is secondary to a lot of hard work and dedication, and it is one you should be very proud of!
Congratulations!