By Emmanuel T. Erediano
[email protected]
Variety News Staff
JUST weeks after Super Typhoon Sinlaku destroyed Da’ok Academy’s temporary campus, 31 graduating seniors gathered with family, friends, educators, and community leaders for a drive-through graduation and awards ceremony that celebrated achievement, resilience, and hope for the future.
Against a backdrop of damaged structures and ongoing recovery efforts, the ceremony on June 4 focused not on what had been lost but on what the students had accomplished. Graduates were recognized for academic excellence, leadership, service, and perseverance as they completed a school year marked by extraordinary challenges.
Leading this year’s honorees was Jared Ighuwilmal T. Saures, recipient of the Governor’s Award, one of the academy’s highest distinctions. Saures also received the CORE Values Award and the Top Mathematics Most Improved Award.
Among the most decorated graduates was Nathalie Giselle O. Matsunaga, who earned the Lt. Governor’s Award, Shark Award, and OFEGRA Outstanding Female Award. Her name appeared repeatedly throughout the ceremony as she collected honors in academics, leadership, and citizenship, including Academic Excellence in U.S. Government, Academic Excellence in English Language Arts, Mathematics Excellence Achievement, Physical Education Academic Excellence, Youth Leader, Close Up Spotlight, CORE Values, and Shark SEL awards.
Other major special award recipients included Senline Agnes W. Kaipat, who received the Mayor’s Award and the COOP Spotlight Award; Maria Stella Igisomar Angui, recipient of the Principal’s Award; and Jayanna Barcilisa C. Ruiz and Kenny Dela Cruz, who received the Resilience Award.
Dela Cruz also earned the Aspiring Historian in NMI History Award and the Biology Science Excellence Award, while Ruiz received the History Achievement Award.
Award recipients
CORE Values Award: Nathalie Matsunaga, Merriam Fathaagin, Jared Saures
Shark SEL Award: Nathalie Matsunaga, Britneylene Lizama, Benjamin Manglona
Best in CCLHS: Angellyna Atalig
Academic Excellence in U.S. Government: Nathalie Matsunaga
Aspiring Historian in NMI History: Kenny Dela Cruz
Close Up Spotlight Award: Nathalie Matsunaga
COOP Spotlight Award: Senline Kaipat, Jonathan P. Wennio
History Achievement Award: Jayana Ruiz
Youth Leader Award: Nathalie Matsunaga
Academic Excellence in English Language Arts: Nathalie Matsunaga
Most Improved Lexile Award: Maria Angui
Top English Language Arts Most Improved Award: Benjamin Manglona
Mathematics Excellence Achievement Award: Nathalie Matsunaga
Top Mathematics Most Improved Award: Jared Saures
Biology Science Excellence Award: Kenny Dela Cruz
Chemistry Science Excellence Award: Benjamin Manglona
Environmental Science Excellence Award: Andrea Teigita
Physical Education Academic Excellence Award: Nathalie Matsunaga
Against All Odds Award: Jonathan P. Wennio
CTE Academic Excellence Award: Jarmine Taitano
NMTECH CORE Summer 2025 Award: Maria Stella I. Angui, Melisha R. Gaag
WPMA Summer 2025 Award: Maria Stella I. Angui
Special awards
Governor’s Award: Jared Ighuwilmal T. Saures
Lt. Governor’s Award: Nathalie Giselle O. Matsunaga
Mayor’s Award: Senline Agnes W. Kaipat
Principal’s Award: Maria Stella Igisomar Angui
OFEGRA Outstanding Female Award: Nathalie Giselle O. Matsunaga
Shark Award: Nathalie Giselle O. Matsunaga
Resilience Award: Jayanna Barcilisa C. Ruiz, Kenny Dela Cruz
Emmanuel “Arnold” Erediano has a bachelor of science degree in Journalism. He started his career as police beat reporter. Loves to cook. Eats death threats for breakfast.
