From the sea to the summit: How VSU Tolosa's first summa cum laude found purpose beyond excellence

For Jomari Z. Tubigan, the sea has always been more than just a backdrop to his childhood.

Growing up in the coastal municipality of Silago, Southern Leyte, he witnessed how fishing sustained his family's daily life and made his education possible. As the son of a fisherman, he spent his younger years gleaning during low tide, joining his father and siblings in hook-and-line fishing, setting fish pots, and exploring coral reefs—experiences that subconsciously nurtured a curiosity that would later become a lifelong pursuit.

"It fascinates me to see the deep waters and the thriving ecosystem beneath it," he recalled. "Seeing the waves and feeling the breeze at noon also fills me with awe."

Years later, that curiosity would find its purpose at Visayas State University Tolosa, where it was transformed into scientific inquiry, leadership, and service. Today, Jomari has etched his name in the university's history as VSU Tolosa's first-ever Summa Cum Laude and the top graduate of the entire Visayas State University System—a milestone that reflects not only exceptional academic achievement but also the transformative power of a VSU education.

More than a personal triumph, his story affirms what VSU continues to cultivate across its campuses: graduates whose excellence is anchored in purpose, resilience, and a commitment to serve the communities that shaped them.

Where curiosity met opportunity

Jomari chose VSU Tolosa because it offered the Bachelor of Science in Fisheries program closest to home. But what began as a practical decision soon became one of the most defining choices of his life.

Long before college, science had already captured his interest. From joining science quiz bees in elementary school to pursuing the STEM strand in senior high school, he found himself constantly asking questions about the natural world. Fisheries became the perfect bridge between that curiosity and the realities he had long observed in his coastal community.

His dream was made possible through the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Region VIII Scholarship Program, which enabled him to pursue higher education without allowing financial constraints to hinder his aspirations.

More than financial assistance, the scholarship gave him access to laboratory training, fieldwork, research opportunities, and the holistic learning environment that VSU Tolosa is known for.

Looking back, he considers the university not only as the place where he earned a degree but where he grew as both a scholar and a person.

"I am thankful to VSU Tolosa for being part of my journey," he said.

Lessons beyond the classroom

Behind the distinction of Summa Cum Laude were years of quiet perseverance.

Like many students entering college, Jomari had to adjust to a new environment, unfamiliar classmates, and the rigorous demands of the Fisheries program. Laboratory exercises, field activities, technical reports, and research became part of his everyday life.

Yet it was not only academic knowledge that shaped him during those four years.

"Studying in VSU Tolosa taught me that faith and hard work must be inseparable in order to overcome every challenge," he reflected.

He also learned to persevere through simultaneous financial, physical, mental, and emotional struggles.

"I was able to continue because my classmates, instructors, and family helped me through them," he said.

Those words perhaps best describe the kind of education VSU seeks to provide—one where excellence is never achieved in isolation but is nurtured by mentors, classmates, families, and a university community that believes in every student's potential.

Science that gives back

Jomari's undergraduate research reflected both scientific curiosity and social responsibility.

Inspired by previous student researchers and guided by his thesis adviser, he investigated the use of chitosan extracted from shrimp shell waste as a natural biopreservative to enhance the quality and shelf life of tuna.

The study addressed two pressing concerns at once: reducing aquaculture waste while improving the preservation of fishery products.

"I believed that materials often considered waste, like shrimp shells, still have value," he explained. "Through science, they can become biopreservatives that help improve fish quality instead of simply being discarded."

His research exemplifies the kind of science VSU promotes—research that responds to real-world challenges, advances sustainability, contributes to the circular economy, and creates solutions that benefit industries and communities alike.

The experience also deepened his appreciation of the field he chose.

"Studying BS Fisheries at VSU Tolosa broadened my understanding of aquatic ecosystems, fisheries resources, and their importance to all of us," he said. "There is always more to discover. We just need to fuel our curiosity with everything around us."

A university that shapes scholars with purpose

As Jomari's academic journey unfolded, VSU Tolosa became more than a place of learning.

It became the institution that transformed the curiosity of a fisherman's son into the mindset of a scientist—one who understands that knowledge carries responsibility.

After graduation, Jomari hopes to begin his professional career with BFAR Region VIII, the same institution that invested in his education as a scholar.

"With all the assistance BFAR has given me throughout my college journey, I would like to work with them if given the opportunity," he shared. "I believe it will help me improve my skills while serving the fisheries sector."

His aspiration reflects the values that VSU continuously instills in its graduates: that education is not simply a pathway to personal success but a means of giving back to the communities and sectors that helped shape them.

For VSU Tolosa Chancellor Dr. Quenstein D. Lauzon, Jomari's achievement also marks a defining milestone for the campus.

"VSUT is recognized as the delivering higher education institution for BFAR undergraduate scholars. Mr. Tubigan's historic achievement strengthens VSU Tolosa's growing academic reputation and highlights our commitment to producing globally competitive professionals," she said.

Meanwhile, Dr. Rizalyn P. Gonzales, Dean of the Faculty of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, hopes Jomari's story will inspire generations of students to pursue their dreams with purpose, serve with compassion, and leave a lasting legacy in their chosen fields.

Carrying forward the VSU tradition

Jomari's story also joins a growing legacy of VSU graduates whose achievements extend far beyond academic distinctions.

In 2025, Marine Biology graduate Jose Enrique E. Reyes and Development Communication graduate Jacklyn E. Olaer demonstrated how research and communication can directly respond to the needs of fishing communities, farmers, and local development partners. This year, undergraduate valedictorian Albert Victor M. Senillo, a Biology major in Zoology, and Graduate School valedictorian Lady Joie C. Balotite, a Plant Pathology scholar, showed how scientific curiosity, perseverance, leadership, and compassion can become powerful tools for public service.

Together with Jomari, they embody the kind of graduates Visayas State University continues to produce—individuals who excel not only in the classroom, laboratory, or field, but who understand that education finds its highest purpose when it is used to improve lives, strengthen communities, and contribute to nation-building.

A legacy that begins with a first

Being VSU Tolosa's first Summa Cum Laude is a distinction that will forever be part of Jomari's story.

Yet perhaps his greater legacy lies beyond the medal.

His journey assures every young person from a coastal community that their beginnings do not limit how far they can go. It reminds future VSU Tolosa students that excellence is built not in extraordinary moments alone but through quiet perseverance, unwavering faith, supportive mentors, and a community that believes in their potential.

For Jomari, the sea first awakened his curiosity.

At VSU Tolosa, that curiosity found direction.

Through scholarship, research, mentorship, and years of steadfast determination, it became a life dedicated to advancing fisheries science and serving the very communities that first inspired his dream.

His story is not simply about becoming the first Summa Cum Laude.

It is about becoming the first of many young Viscans whose lives affirm that when opportunity meets perseverance—and when a VSU education is anchored in excellence with purpose—it creates graduates ready not only to succeed, but to make a lasting difference.

This article is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education; SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth; SDG 14: Life Below Water; SDG 1: No Poverty; SDG 2: Zero Hunger; SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities; and SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals. 

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