Marine Biology and Devcom graduates named top students of VSU Class of 2025

Two students will lead VSU Class of 2025 not just in academic rank but in how they have used their education to engage with communities and bring attention to issues that matter. 

Jose Enrique E. Reyes, a Bachelor of Science in Marine Biology student from barangay San Roque, Talisay, Cebu, will graduate Summa Cum Laude with a GPA of 1.187 and earned the title of Class Valedictorian among the 1,463 undergraduate students. 

On the graduate level, Jacklyn E. Olaer, from the Master of Science in Development Communication program, will top her class with a GPA of 1.092. 

Bridging marine science and community realities

For Jose Enrique, marine biology was never about studying fish or coral reefs. It was about understanding how science can respond to the real-life struggles of people who live by the sea. 

During his 180-hour internship with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) in Tagbilaran, Bohol, he worked closely with local patrollers and fisherfolk to conduct reef checks, fish counts, and species monitoring. 

But more than the data, what struck with him was the systemic neglect faced by many fishing communities. 

“Dili lang ni research para maka graduate. Dapat motabang pod sa community. Walay meaning ang science kung layo siya sa mga tao,” Jose Enrique shared. 

[This should not just be research to graduate. It should also help people. If science stays far from the masses, it loses meaning.]

That experience changed the direction of his thesis, which turned into a policy-based study meant to improve marine protected area (MPA) enforcement based on local knowledge and lived realities. 

For him, science must be useful, not only to scholars, but to the people most affected by environmental issues. 

He admits the process was not easy. Long nights in the laboratory, bureaucratic bottlenecks, and community consultations tested his patience and resolve. But he stayed grounded, thanks to the support of his family, mentors, and peers. 

“I am a museum of the different people that I have met along the way,” he said, crediting others for shaping who he has become. 

Jose Enrique now looks forward to continuing his work in marine conservation, but using research as a tool for justice and sustainability. 

Writing stories that matter

For Jacklyn, becoming VSU’s top graduate student is a milestone, but not the one that defines her. Her real journey began when she chose to listen to an inner voice that led her away from Veterinary Medicine and into Development Communication. 

“Wala ni sa plano, pero na-feel nako nga didto ko gitawag. Not just to write, but motabang sad,” she said.

[This wasn’t in the plan, but I felt this is where I was being called. Not just to write, but to truly help.]

A native in Baybay City, Jacklyn found a deeper purpose in communicating for those who often go unheard such us the farmers, youth, and local development workers. 

From writing about green consumer behavior to training young leaders, her work connected academic research with real-world application. 

Her undergraduate thesis which was recognized at national conferences, focused on the psychology behind eco-friendly buying choices. 

In graduate school, she applied what she learned through VSU-led extension programs, writing materials for projects and helping translate complex ideas into language that rural communities can understand and act on. 

Jacklyn’s path was not without obstacles. She lost both parents early and went through a crisis during her studies. But her mentors like Dr. Rotacio Gravoso and Dr. Ulderico Alviola helped her stay focused.

“If you carry pain, you can turn that into strength not just for yourself, but for others who have gone through the same,” she shared. 

She hopes to continue working with farmers and development practitioners after graduation, using communication as a tool for empowerment and change. 

Both Jose Enrique and Jacklyn reflect a kind of academic success that goes beyond medals and grades. Their journeys show how purpose and empathy can  turn education into something rooted in the real challenges people face.

They, along with the 332 Latin honor graduates, will be formally recognized during the Pasidungog on July 23, 2025 at the VSU Gymnatorium, ahead of the 72nd Commencement Exercises of VSU Main Campus on July 24-25, 2025. 

This article is aligned with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 5: Gender Equality; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; SDG 13: Climate Action; SDG 14: Life Below Water; SDG 15: Life on Land; SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals.

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