Forty-five students from the College of Science (COS) received scientific calculators from the COS Alumni Organization during the "Alay SayKal ng Chem Alumnay 2022" event on Tuesday morning (June 21, 2022) at the Main Campus AVR.
The TSU Alumni Association Inc. spearheaded the event alongside the college-based alumni organization, which raised 42,000 pesos for the scientific calculator units.
Among the recipients are BS Chemistry students, particularly the top 10 students from the first-year level and the top six students from the pre-board examinations. Meanwhile, second-year and third-year student recipients were chosen based on a student financial status survey.
According to COS Alumni Organization president Prof. Claire Lagrana, the idea came from Mr. Richard Macapulay, TSU alumnus and 2016 Licensure Examination for Teachers topnotcher (Top 1 - Secondary Level).
Through Macapulay's connection to the University of the Philippines' Institute of Chemists, Prof. Lagrana said they saw the strong partnership between UP and its alumni through an alumni-sponsored building. From this, they considered adopting this best practice by providing calculator units to current students.
“Hindi kasi lahat ng students afford iyon (scientific calculators), so 'yun 'yung naisip nila. Although meron na silang mga calculators, pero siniguro ng mga sponsors nila na itong ibibigay nilang calculators ay allowed ng PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) during board exam. So dapat ma-master na nila 'yung gagamitin nilang unit kasi it takes speed sa kanilang calculation. Dapat kabisado nila yung unit,” Prof. Lagrana said in an interview.
She added that other students might be using high-tech calculators that may not be allowed during board examinations. Adjusting to a new device, such as the donated units, will take time, especially in computing. Hence, it is best to provide the units early so students can practice using them for their computations.
One lucky recipient for this year is Diaem Domingo, 22, a fourth-year student who will be graduating in July 2022 as cum laude.
Domingo said he is currently preparing for the October 2022 Chemist Licensure Examination. His schedule includes reviewing two topics daily and taking notes from the college's in-house review and his review center.
“Inspiring po kasi sya lalo na po alumni po yung mga nagbigay. Parang ito na 'yung basbas nila para sa amin. Ito na 'yung pinaka-good luck charm nila para sa amin na galingan po namin, na magstrive kami for betterness katulad po nila which is inspiration po kasi namin sila,” said Domingo, a consistent dean’s lister since freshman.
He plans to pursue medicine at Urdaneta State University in Pangasinan.
The COS alumni's initiative inspired Domingo to imitate their practice of giving back to the college.
“It inspired me somehow na kung may pagkakataon ako na makatulong someday sa mga [Chemistry students], which is alam naman po namin gaano kahirap ang [BS Chemistry], it will somehow help them; I will somehow help them in the future, and I am ensuring that,” Domingo told OPA.
Aside from providing qualified faculty members, the university also offers students a free in-house review. Board exam topnotchers serve as reviewers to prepare prospective examinees, especially those who cannot afford to enroll in review centers.
In-house review is held every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.
