15/08/2025
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๐ซ๐จ๐ฆ ๐๐ฎ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ง ๐๐๐ ๐ฎ๐ข๐ง๐๐๐ง๐๐จ ๐ญ๐จ ๐๐๐ฅ๐โ๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ฑ๐๐๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐๐
Nathan Wayne F. Ariston, a proud Teduray indigenous youth from Maguindanao, Philippines, has etched his name in history as the first graduate from Philippine Science High School โ Central Mindanao Campus (PSHSโCMC) to earn admissionโand graduateโfrom Yale University.
Born to a farmer father and an elementary school teacher, Nathanโs academic promise shone early. He earned silver in the 2020 International Earth Science Olympiad (Daegu, South Korea) and bronze in the International Chemistry Olympiad (Istanbul, Turkey), both held virtually during the height of the pandemic.
In 2021, Nathan received a full-ride scholarship from Yale University, choosing to pursue a major in Physics. He stood out among offers from Georgia Tech, UC Irvine, and Nanyang Technological University.
Grateful, he remarked:
โI feel so lucky for being part of the Yale Class of 2025.โฆ given the opportunity to explore beyond anywhere Iโve beenโto learn and contributeโฆโ
Nathanโs identity and community remain central to his ambition. He often cites his upbringing as inspiration: science and technology are vehicles to uplift Mindanao. โThe best way I could give backโฆ is through offering my soonโtoโbe expertise in STEMโฆ specifically in Maguindanao and the other Muslim Mindanao areasโ.
On May 20, 2025, Nathan proudly crossed Yaleโs stageโgraduating cm laude as part of the Class of 2025. His achievement reflects the top ~15% of his class at Yale, a testament to both his academic excellence and enduring dedication.
Nathan Wayne Aristonโs journeyโfrom science competitions to Ivy League honorโepitomizes the power of perseverance and community uplift. He not only celebrates personal triumphs, but also paves a path for future Filipino Filipinos from indigenous and rural backgrounds to dream, and to achieve.
Congratulations to Yaleโs Class of 2025 graduateโNathan Wayne Aristonโon graduating cm laude, and for the bright future he represents for Mindanao, for the Philippines, and for underrepresented voices worldwide.