Summa Cum Laude From Marawi to Inspire U.P. Graduates With Valedictory Address

Arman Ali Ghodsinia, a native of Marawi City, is set to speak on behalf of this year’s graduating class at the University of the Philippines Diliman's commencement exercises on Sunday, June 25.

Ghodsinia is a B.S. Molecular Biology and Biotechnology major at the state university's College of Science. His valedictory address comes at a time when his hometown of Marawi is in great distress, terrorized by a group which has aligned itself with ISIS. Since the attacks, President Rodrigo Duterte has declared martial law in Mindanao which will be in effect until the violence ceases. Ghodsinia has reportedly said that his speech in the graduation rites will contain a call for peace.

The honor student garnered a general weighted average of 1.176, earning him a summa cum laude ranking in the school’s grading system. He is one of 36 candidates for summa cum laude in the university. Ghodsinia finished grade school at Ateneo de Manila, and high school at Philippine Science High School, Interaksyon reports.

Apart from this distinction, Ghodsinia was also awarded first prize at the Federation of ASEAN and Oceanian Biochemists and Molecular Biologists (FAOBMB) search for outstanding scientific work earlier this year.

h/t: Interaksyon