HARVESTING GLORY: COA plows multiple medals in Academic Night 2025, topping dominance in individual categories

John Paul Siapel

Harvesting gold in Science and Technology, silver in Mathematics, and bronze in both General Information and Language and Literature that earned them 59 points, the Reapers or the College of Agriculture (COA) of Mindanao State University – General Santos City (MSU-GSC), dominated the individual categories of Academic Night 2025, October 13.

As the event took place in the University Gymnasium of Mindanao State University – General Santos City (MSU-GSC), the Academic Night 2025 became a platform for an intellectual showdown among the colleges in the institution.

‘Despite the challenges’

The 4th-year BS Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering student, Iben Orbuda Oliveros, expressed the challenges that he encountered during the preparation but said they did not hinder him from clutching gold in Science and Technology.

“First of all, grateful po sa akong team kay despite sa ka-heavy sa mga schedule, being a 4th-year student, despite the challenges during sa preparation especially sa review. Nag-bear fruit dito siya at wala din may ipag-sisihan sa tanan na gipangbuhat, sa tanan namang time na mag-sacrifice, tanan to naging worth it,” he expressed.

Oliveros further extended his gratitude to the quizmasters and to the people who helped him prepare for this year's individual quiz.

“Grateful kayo po sa among coach, sa mga quizmasters, kay ang ilang mga gina-question sa mga reviews, it's really in line upon sa mga pointers na ihatag mismo sa Intramural Academics Night,” he said.

Moreover, despite the judgment he faced and the hectic schedules that added to the challenges in the preparation, Oliveros used them as an inspiration to push through and claim first place.

“Grateful ko sa among academic counsellor kay very prompt kay siya, always siya nasa mga ano, ginabisita niya sa mga review time and especially sa among circle of influence, circle of friends, they have these banners and printed stuff, which is very grateful to kay ilaha,” he shared.

Oliveros also emphasized the significance of the COA constituents cheering for the team despite the setbacks they experienced, serving as an additional boost to their morale.

‘Prepared to conquer’

Engr. Jackielou Paches, coach and faculty member of COA, shared her role in the Academic Team of the college.

“I was tasked to oversee their review, and also, so that I wouldn't have a hard time, because as a lecturer in our department, I handpicked the lawyers as quizmasters, then those quizmasters were the ones who created our review questions, ensuring that our team was prepared to conquer,” she highlighted.

Paches admitted that the team faced time constraints, affecting the participants’ preparation due to their prior academic commitments.

“Actually, our review would start at 5 p.m. and we would end at our review corner at 11 p.m., so that's every night. Then also, they were fourth-years, so they were having their field trip this semester. So, even when we were on a field trip, we were still reviewing,” she recalled.

Furthermore, Paches remarked that the team was teachable, which she considered as one of the main reasons they secured podium finishes in every category.

“Maybe, instill in them that hard work will pay off. Then also, trust in themselves and in the work that they have done,” Paches stated.

Paches relayed that with unwavering support of both the student organization and the COA faculty and staff, the team managed to address concerns in their preparations.