One hundred and twenty-three UP Rural High School (UPRHS) students officially completed their first four years in high school during the Junior High School (JHS) Completion Rites for AY 2017-2018 on June 1 at the DL Umali Hall.

This is UPRHS’ third batch of JHS completers since the country shifted to the K to 12 Basic Education Program.

On behalf of Chancellor Fernando C. Sanchez, Jr., Dr. Portia G. Lapitan, vice chancellor for academic affairs, congratulated the completers. She encouraged them to make the most of the “time and chance” that they will have during the two-year Senior High School (SHS) phase: “time” to adjust and prepare for the demands and challenges of studying in the university and “chance” to further discover their potentials prior to pursuing college.

Mariko S. Tsuji, who is graduating with highest honors and led 52 honor students, spoke on behalf of her batch mates and talked about her personal challenges in completing JHS. She encouraged her fellow students to celebrate their successes amid the challenges and to not forget the important lessons that they have learned in the past four years.

This year’s guest speaker was Dr. Daylinda Banzon-Cabanilla, valedictorian of UPRHS Class of 1968 and a retired professor at the College of Forestry and Natural Resources.

Dr. Cabanilla, an anthropologist, encouraged the completers to continue nurturing UP’s brand of critical discourse, which, according to her, is the process of unearthing and carefully examining assumptions by taking different perspectives of familiar everyday beliefs and behavior.

Prof. Liza Carascal, principal of UPRHS, presented the students to Dr. Felino P. Lansigan, who officially declared their JHS completion.

Also present were members of the UPRHS Classes of 1968 and 1993, the golden and silver jubilarians, respectively. (KEAraguas)