THE UST Alumni Association, Inc. (USTAAI) honored 63 University alumni on Nov. 18 in the 8th Distinguished Thomasian Alumni Awards (DTAA) Night at the Dr. Robert Sy Grand Ballroom of the Buenaventura Garcia Paredes, O.P. Building.
The awards night, according to Ma. Lourdes Garganera, chair of the awards committee, “pay[s] tribute to the enduring spirit of Thomasian excellence that has left an indelible mark on our Alma Mater and the world.”
“Our distinguished alumni are the embodiment of the University’s commitment to producing graduates who lead with competence, compassion, and a commitment to [make] a positive impact on society,” Garganera said.
This year, the USTAAI “raised the level” of recognition by rebranding the title to be an “award” instead of a “recognition,” said chairman emeritus Robert Sy.
Among this year’s awardees is Professor Emeritus Maribel Nonato, an alumna of the College of Science and assistant to the rector for UST General Santos City.
Former UST secretary general Fr. Jesus Miranda Jr., O.P., an Ecclesiastical Faculties alumnus, was also recognized in the 8th DTAA awards night.
Other University officials feted with the distinguished alumni plum were UST Graduate School of Law Dean Maria Lopez-Rosario and College of Commerce and Business Administration Dean Leonardo Canoy.
Prof. Marilu Madrunio, former dean of the Faculty of Arts and Letters (Artlets) and the Graduate School, was also one of the recipients of the award.
Outside the academe, the USTAAI honored Pasay Mayor Imelda Rubiano, an Artlets alumna, and Tarlac Mayor Maria Cristina Angeles, a College of Commerce and Business Administration alumna.
Manila Philharmonic Orchestra founder Rodel Colmenar, a Conservatory of Music alumnus, and veteran broadcast journalist Jovenal “Jove” Francisco Jr., a College of Science alumnus, were also given awards during the event.
Each of the 63 distinguished Thomasian alumni awardees was given a token modeled after the University’s historic Arch of the Centuries.
The DTAA was first held in 2011 to drumbeat the celebration of UST’s quadricentennial anniversary.
