The University of Southern Mindanao (USM) once again made history when three of its graduates namely: Ms. Aurish Kizia S. Calawen (Rank 5), Mr. Renz J L. Caducoy (Rank 6), and Mr. Leandreux D. Ocasion (Rank 10) landed in the Top 10 in the Agriculturist Licensure Examination conducted on  November 9-11, 2021.

Ms. Calawen, an Animal Science major, obtained a rating of 85.00% while Mr. Caducoy, an Entomology major, got 84.83%, and Mr. Ocasion, a Soil Science major, had 84.17%. The said topnotchers were teammates during their college days competing in the Kaliline Festival representing the College of Agriculture. For three years their team consecutively belonged to top three in the Kaliline Fest and were the first runner-up in the National Agricultural Science Quiz Contest (NASQC) held at UPLB, Los Baños, Laguna on March 17, 2018.

Aurish Kizia S. Calawen
ALE Top 5 – 85.00%

Renz J L. Caducoy
ALE Top 6 – 84.83%

Leandreux D. Ocasion
ALE Top 10 – 84.17%

A total of 51 out of 130 takers from USM passed the exam obtaining a 39.23% passing rate, higher than the national passing rate of 29.84%. Out of 3,927 takers from Manila, Baguio, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Koronadal, Legazpi, Lucena, Pagadian, Rosales, San Fernando, Tacloban, Tuguegarao, and Zamboanga only 1,172 successfully passed the exam. The result was announced by the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC) five working days after the last day of the exam.

This year’s members of the Board of Agriculture are Dr. Emma K. Sales, Chairman; Dr. Nora B. Inciong, Mr. Gonzalo O. Catan, Jr., Mr. Vicente L. Domingo, Eric P. Palacpac, and Dr. Anabelle S. Sarabia, Members