BukSU honors LEPT topnotchers, passers; grants a total of ₱430K in cash incentives

Recognizing academic excellence and professional achievement, Bukidnon State University (BukSU) formally honored its topnotchers and successful passers of the Licensure Examination for Professional Teachers (LEPT) from the September 2025 and March 2026 cohorts during a recognition program held at the University Mini Theater on Thursday, June 11, 2026.

Spearheaded by the BukSU College of Education (COE), the university awarded a total of ₱430,000 in cash incentives and plaques of recognition to five outstanding board placers from the March 2026 examination, reinforcing the value of meritocracy in education.

March 2026 board topnotcher Princess Willah M. Yamahon led the awardees, receiving a ₱150,000 cash reward for claiming the coveted Top 1 spot nationwide. Fifth-place rankers Sophia Acquin A. Parista, and Elkan T. Salumintao were awarded ₱75,000 each, while eighth-place placers Shekinah Philline J. Sayson and Ian Fhred S. Tamong received ₱50,000 apiece. Keith Harvey C. Berial, a Top 10 placer from the September 2025 examination, was also lauded during the event.

In her congratulatory address, BukSU University President Dr. Joy M. Mirasol, read by Vice President for Administration and Finance Mr. Dante S. Victoria Jr., emphasized that the board exam is “no easy feat” and commended the passers for their resilience.

“To be counted among the best in the country requires not only intelligence but also discipline, consistency, and determination,” Mirasol said, noting that their victory inspires both current students and future educators.

Dr. Mirasol also urged the new professional teachers to embody three foundational principles as they begin their careers: “Dream boldly. Act with purpose. Serve with heart.” She reminded them that the teaching license is “not the finish line” but rather the “beginning of a greater responsibility and an even greater opportunity to make a difference.”

Aside from university leadership and COE faculty members, the celebration was attended by the honorees’ parents and guardians, whom Dr. Mirasol specifically recognized for their quiet sacrifices and unwavering support.

The distribution of cash incentives followed the Board of Regents’ approval of Resolution No. 3195, S. 2026, titled “A Resolution Approving the Amendments to the Policy on Cash Incentives for BukSU Board and Bar Topnotchers.” According to the resolution, BukSU has consistently produced 28 board and bar topnotchers from 2019 to 2025.

To ensure competitiveness, inclusivity, and alignment with national practices, Resolution No. 3195 updated the university’s incentive scheme and expanded coverage to include placers ranking from Top 11 to 20. (BukSU – Information Unit)