Mindanawon students have made their mark in various international competitions and prestigious universities in 2025. Nathan Wayne Ariston, a Teduray from Upi, Maguindanao del Norte, graduated from Yale University with dual degrees in Bachelor of Science in Physics and Mathematics, cum laude. He was also awarded the Howard L. Schultz Prize for excellence in experimental physics. Ariston is the first alumnus of the Philippine Science High School-Central Mindanao Campus to graduate from Yale on a full scholarship.
Meanwhile, Mohammad Nur Casib, a Moro from Marawi City, Lanao del Sur, was accepted into the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a full scholarship. Casib, who excels in math, physics, chemistry, and statistics, has won numerous awards in national and international competitions, including the Philippine Physics Olympiad and the Philippine Mathematical Olympiad. He is pursuing a double major in AI and Chemistry, minor in Physics, at MIT.
Gwyneth Marie M. Vasquez, a Butuanon, finished her Advanced Master in Cultural Anthropology and Development Studies at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven in Belgium with the highest award, Summa Cum Laude with Congratulations of the Board of Examiners. She graduated from the Ateneo de Davao University with a degree in Anthropology, Summa Cum Laude and Class Valedictorian.
The Ateneo de Davao University’s Rocketry Team also made history by qualifying for the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition in the United States and winning first place in the Malaysia Rocket Cansat Competition. The team’s rocket, “Pompano,” was the only competitor from the Philippines and the only rocket to be completely recovered across all categories.
Additionally, the university’s Robotics Team won the championship at the National Winnovation Techfest for their IoT-powered blood pressure training simulator, SphygmoSim. Two AdDU student teams, Lunhawpax and SoilBit, were shortlisted for the Final Round of the iSpark International Pitching Competition in China, with Lunhawpax winning the 1st Prize and SoilBit winning 2nd Prize.
Team Kuantica from the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology’s College of Computer Studies received the “Outstanding Project” award at the Huawei Developer Competition 2025 Asia-Pacific in Hong Kong for their rescue app prototype, The Atlas Project. The project aims to provide a critical emergency tool that utilizes Huawei Cloud technologies to address urgent societal needs. These achievements demonstrate the talent and dedication of Mindanawon students in various fields, bringing pride and recognition to their schools and communities.
