Story By Georgene Quilaton-Tambiga
Colegio de Sto. Tomas-Recoletos, Inc. finally marked a significant chapter in its history after the graduation of its first batch of college students last June 6, 2026, at the CST-R Quadrangle. The Pioneers consisted of 66 College Thomasians.
Dubbed as the First College Commencement Exercises, it headlined the top three academic achievers coming from the College of Business (COB) and the College of Criminal Justice Education (CCJE).
Angela Roi T. Aguanta, Bachelor of Science in Entrepreneurship, led The Pioneers as class valedictorian and CST-R’s first summa cum laude. During her speech, the Talisay City, Cebu native and working scholar, shared how she managed to balance her studies and her work at the JF Ledesma Foundation, Inc.
Aguanta centered her speech on a reflection about re-directions in life as based on her own story. Being a pandemic graduate, she did not experience a graduation ceremony and her college enrollment was stalled for at least two years before an opportunity to work and study in San Carlos City arrived.
Rachel Mae B. De Gracia, BS in Entrepreneurship, magna cum laude, ranked second. De Gracia is also a working student under the Recollect Educational Assistance for Deserving Students (READS) program and has served the External Communications Office of CST-R since 2022. She is an alumnus of Julio Ledesma National High School.
Kem S. Alora, BS in Criminology, magna cum laude, ranked third and topped CCJE. Alora, an alumna from Bagonbon National High School, also received the Exemplary Lead award for topping the Mock Board Examination given by the department.
The Pioneers entered the gates of CST-R in August 2022. There were 154 of them at the start of their college journey.
