CASE Awards Most Outstanding MassCom, Educ Alumnae

In recognition of her contributions to the Philippines’ broadcasting industry, the College of Arts, Sciences, and Education (CASE) of Trinity University of Asia (TUA) accorded the Most Outstanding Alumni Award 2021 to Maria Franisa Avendaño-Umali, AB Mass Communication Batch 2006, during the ICONS: Virtual Alumni Homecoming held last Feb. 20, 2021 via Zoom.

Medine Karakuş, BSEd major in English alumna Batch 2015, also received the Young Alumni Achiever Award 2021 on the same occasion.

Avendaño-Umali is a reporter, broadcaster and commentator at DZBB, the radio arm of GMA Television Network. Prior to her current stint, she was a broadcaster and commentator in DZIQ Inquirer Radio.

Karakuş, on the other hand, is currently an e-Commerce manager in the United States. Previously, she worked as English teacher in a private high school in Turkey before she went to U.S. to pursue her Master’s degree in Public and Organizational Relations in Montclair University.

“I have been working in media for more than a decade now, I’ve worked for five radio stations, including my current company, GMA Network, and I am so happy dahil lahat ng ginagawa ko ay dahil sa lahat ng napag-aralan ko at natutunan ko from Trinity University of Asia,” said Avendaño-Umali during her acceptance speech.

She also hoped that she can share her knowledge and experiences to students of TUA in the near future, when the pandemic is over.

Karakuş, meanwhile, shared in her Facebook account her gratitude to her alma mater.

“It is hard to put this feeling into words. It’s a great honor for me to receive Young Achiever award from my university. I am truly grateful. Words can’t even express my gratitude. I would love to thank to my university with all my heart. I will do my best to merit this recognition. This award will be a great reminder of the hard work and motivate me to achieve more success in the future,” said the Turkish awardee.

Both awardees were chosen by a screening committee from the nominations which was opened to public last November, 2020. They were joined by other alumni who were hailed as outstanding achievers in their fields of expertise.

Dr. Saude Imlan of Batch 2002 was chosen for the BS Biology program for his contributions to the public health as an internist and a medical frontliner in the fight against COVID-19.

Ms. Neltissa Binag De Villa (Batch 2011), on the other hand, was chosen as one of the three outstanding alumni for Education. Ms. De Villa is a recipient of a national award and had published researches in her field.

She is joined by Ms. Carla Dela Cruz (Batch 2011), a nominee for Happiest Pinoy in 2013, and Dr. Denton Caballero (Batch 1996), a Master Teacher II in San Fabian, Pangasinan and also a recipient of a national award.

The CASE ICONS: Virtual Alumni Homecoming and Search for Outstanding Alumni and Young Alumni Achievers is part of the 58th Founding Anniversary celebration of TUA.

The event was attended by alumni of BS Biology, BS Psychology, Education, BA Communication, and BA Broadcasting programs from different batches, as well as by the former and present faculty of the college.