While diplomas and academic achievements took center stage during the third day of Catanduanes State University’s 55th Commencement Exercises, University President Dr. Gemma G. Acedo reminded the graduating Class of 2026 that their most valuable credential cannot be printed on paper.

Addressing the graduates of the Graduate School, College of Business and Accountancy, and College of Engineering and Architecture, Acedo challenged them to carry into the future not only the knowledge they acquired in the classroom but also the character that will define their impact on society.

“Let your character be greater than your credentials,” she said.

Acedo acknowledged the perseverance that brought the graduates to commencement day, noting that they reached the milestone because they chose to keep moving forward despite challenges along the way. As they leave the University, she said, society now looks to them as professionals prepared to contribute with confidence, integrity, and purpose.

She reminded the graduates that a degree should not be viewed solely as a pathway to personal success. While recognizing their aspirations for stable careers and better lives for their families, she urged them to look beyond individual achievement and consider how their education can benefit others.

“I hope you will ask yourself a larger question,” Acedo said. “Not only what can this degree do for me, but what can I do for others because of this degree?”

Throughout her address, she emphasized service as the true measure of education. Knowledge, she said, becomes most meaningful when it strengthens institutions, improves communities, and creates opportunities for others.

She encouraged the graduates to use their expertise and leadership to contribute to the development of Catanduanes and the people who supported them throughout their academic journey. Success, she added, carries greater value when it uplifts others and responds to real needs.

Acedo also paid tribute to the parents and loved ones whose sacrifices helped make graduation possible, reminding the Class of 2026 that the milestone belonged not only to the graduates but also to the families who stood behind them.

As the newest CatSU alumni prepare to begin their professional journeys, Acedo left them with a challenge rooted not in titles or achievements, but in values: lead with integrity, work with purpose, and allow their success to become a source of hope for others.

For the Class of 2026, the message was clear—while a diploma may open doors, character is what leaves a lasting mark.