A 21-year-old Filipino has graduated summa cum laude from Yale University with a perfect 4.0 GPA. 

Dion Stephan Ong was among the 4,000 students at the Ivy League school’s 323rd commencement earlier this week.

Ong, an alumnus of Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), earned combined Bachelor and Master of Science degrees in Computer Science. 

His academic journey began in Ateneo, where he was a top achiever in basic education and valedictorian of his senior high school batch.

In a congratulatory statement, the ADMU said Ong was “a top achiever during his time in basic education and was even the valedictorian of his senior high school batch.” He graduated from Ateneo’s elementary school in 2014, high school in 2018, and senior high school in 2020.

Ong’s entry into Yale coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing him to begin his university studies online, Philippine Star reports. Despite these challenges, he maintained a perfect academic record.

At Yale, Ong received several honors, including Distinction in the Major and the Yale Science & Engineering Association Senior of Distinction award. He was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

After graduation, Ong is set to work as a core engineer at Hudson River Trading, a trading firm in New York City.

ADMU expressed pride in Ong’s achievements, noting his exceptional performance both at Ateneo and Yale.