INTEC graduates 763 new undergraduate and graduate professionals
SANTO DOMINGO. - Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) held its 71st graduation ceremony, in which 763 new professionals received their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Guest speaker was Thaís Herrera, the first Dominican and Caribbean woman to reach the summit of Mount Everest.
At this graduation ceremony, the first graduates of several programs received their degrees. The first graduate of the Bachelor's Degree in Data Science, Leonardo Vannoni Lorenzo, received his degree with Summa Cum Laude honors; also, the first four graduates of the Master's Degree in Film Scriptwriting; the first four residents in Pediatrics from the Doctor Hugo Mendoza Children's Hospital; and the first 140 graduates of the Master's Degree in Curriculum Development, carried out in partnership with the National Institute for Teacher Training and Capacity Building (INAFOCAM), who are teachers from San Pedro de Macorís, San Juan de la Maguana, La Romana, Monte Plata, San Cristóbal, El Valle, Moca, Salcedo, Sabana de la Mar, Barahona, Yamasá, Azua, La Vega, Jimaní, Pedernales, among other provinces in the country.
Of the total number of graduates, 353 are enrolled in undergraduate programs (46.26%) and 410 are enrolled in postgraduate programs (53.74%). Furthermore, 456 are women (59.76%) and 307 men (40.24%), reflecting the growing participation of women in higher education. At this inauguration, 153 students earned academic honors: Summa Cum Laude: 62 (47.71%); Magna Cum Laude: 73 (11.76%); and Cum Laude: 18 (40.52%).
The graduation ceremony, held this Saturday at the Sans Soucí Convention Center, began with remarks by Interim Rector Alliet Ortega Rabassa, who recognized the role of the university's teaching staff in educating students. "In turbulent times, when knowledge is the boundary between backwardness and development, the role of educators is more vital than ever. Thanks to your dedication, every achievement we applaud today is deeply rooted in your effort, guidance, and inspiration," she said.
Emphasizing that at INTEC, academic excellence is not a reward, but a way of serving, he recognized the 763 graduates, who have stories of effort, discipline, and hope. Among them, he highlighted the fourteen scholarship recipients of the INTEC Program with Outstanding Students (PIES), whom he asked to stand and receive the audience's applause.
He stated that, as part of its commitment to the country, INTEC actively promotes the training of professionals in STEM fields, in response to the current and future demand of the Dominican Republic's productive, technological, and scientific sectors.
Noting that at the seventy-first graduation ceremony, 60% of the graduates were women, the interim rector noted that "this trend is part of a global context, where the increase in female enrollment in higher education has been significant, but we also noted a decline in the participation of men in some academic fields, which is a wake-up call."
Ortega explained that the challenge is twofold: to continue closing gaps and achieve balanced integration that enhances the talent of both genders in STEM careers, where the solutions of the future are forged.
Thaís Herrera, guest speaker
The keynote address at the graduation ceremony was given by Thaís Herrera, a prominent mountaineer and triathlete, recognized for being the first Dominican and Caribbean woman to conquer Mount Everest, as well as the highest peaks on each continent: Aconcagua (South America), Denali (North America), Kilimanjaro (Africa), Elbrus (Europe), Vinson Massif (Antarctica), and the Carstensz Pyramid or Puncak Jaya (Oceania).
Herrera, an industrial engineer with a degree from the Pedro Henríquez Ureña National University (UNPHU) and a Master's in Advanced Management from INTEC, spoke with the graduates about how to find inspiration to achieve goals, even when they seem distant or even impossible.
In his speech, he asserted that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary dreams. "We Dominicans can reach any summit we set our minds to, if we put passion and effort into achieving it," he expressed, while emphasizing to the graduates that they must be grateful in every moment.
The ceremony
After the degree ceremony concluded, Elián Matos Díaz, who graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Software Engineering, administered the oath to all his classmates.
The speech on behalf of the graduating class was delivered jointly by Krisel María De Los Santos Báez, a Marketing and Digital Business major, and Fredy Antonio Bottier Adames, a International Business major, both of whom graduated with a 4-point GPA.
Both appreciated the constant support of their parents, teachers, and fellow students. “Today, looking back, we feel deeply grateful for everything we have experienced at INTEC. This journey has not only been one of classes, exams, and projects, but also of experiences that have shaped us beyond the academic sphere, a stage of personal growth that transformed us in ways we perhaps have not yet fully grasped.”
The young people recalled the opportunity they had to experience things far beyond the classroom: competitions, extracurricular activities, committees, and student groups, all of which always taught them something. "Over time, we realized that the most important thing isn't the result, but the journey."
PIES Program
Within the graduating class, 14 INTEC Outstanding Students Program (PIES) recipients received their degrees, of which 10 graduated with honors (9 Summa Cum Laude and 1 Magna Cum Laude), demonstrating the impact of this pioneering initiative in the country.
Other statistics
Of the 763 graduates, 208 are from the Engineering Department (27.3%); 171 from the Economics and Business Department (22.4%); 195 from the Health Sciences Department (25.6%); 173 from the Social Sciences and Humanities Department (22.7%); and 16 from the Basic and Environmental Sciences Department (2.1%). Graduates in STEM fields represent 29.4% of the total; of this percentage, 70% are men and 30% are women.