UP Visayas' first summa cum laude is Applied Mathematics major

Raoul Danniel Manuel just made history. He is the University of the Philippines Visayas' (UVP) first summa cum laude. 
  
The BS Applied Mathematics major of the graduating Class of 2015 earned a general weighted average (GWA) of 1.099.
 

"To be an achiever in UP is really difficult if one is alone so I am blessed to have people who have always been supportive of me even in my college life," he said in an interview.  

Manuel was the class valedictorian of the UP High School in Iloilo City in 2011 and also the class valedictorian of the SPED – Integrated School for Exceptional Children in the same city in 2007. Later, he received the UP Presidential Scholarship--a grant only given to a chosen few. 

 

Throughout his college life, Manuel was active in various school and community activities.
UP Visayas said he served as the Chairperson of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Student Council during AY 2014-2015, among other leadership roles.

UP Visayas reported that Manuel is the Lead Convenor for the Youth for Accountability and Truth Now – Panay Alliance (2014 to the present), was the Vice Chairperson of the UPV OIKOS Ecological Movement (2013 – 2014), the Secretary of the Legal Network for Truthful Elections (LENTE) - UPV Chapter (2013 – 2015), the Treasurer of the UPV Mathematics Circle (2011 - 2013), served as Internal Affairs Committee Member for Elektrons (2012-2013) and a member of the UPV Delegates of Untainted Commitment to Effectuate Service (2011 to 2015). 

^{Photo courtesy UP Visayas website}

 

"As an Iskolar ng Bayan I had to open my eyes to the realities around me and look for ways to become active in the affairs inside and outside of the University. My UP education instilled in me a desire to use my potentials to advance genuine social change," he told UPV. 

 

Manuel is a recipient of many awards. This includes being one of the Philippine Center for Gifted Education's Mga Bagong Rizal: Pag-asa ng Bayan national awardees in 2011. 

 

What's next for Manuel? The summa cum laude plans to pursue a master's degree in applied mathematics. 

 

"I am not really aiming to be rich or to use my talents to enrich myself materially. I have simple joys and I want to live a life of purpose," Manuel told UPV.  - Trisha Macas/JJ, GMA News