Pinoy graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with two degrees and earned the highest honors of double summa cum laude.

Jacob Johann Wee, 21, a Filipino student snagged two summa cum laude honors as he graduated with two degrees in the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League School in Philadelphia.

Wee finished Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of Business and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the College of Arts and Sciences of the University of Pennsylvania in just four years.

Before entering UPenn, Jacob was quite an achiever. He graduated with high honors from Xavier School in Greenhills; joined several leadership programs; and is now a member of UPenn’s debate society.

The Pinoy pride was expected to enter Ateneo de Manila University but considered entering one of the most prestigious universities in the world, with Scholastic Aptitude Test results of 2270 out of 2400.

When asked, why double degrees in Economics and Psychology?

Jacob thinks that “Most people study Economics and Psychology because they’re interested in Behavioral Economics. I studied Economics to get a better understanding of business, and I studied Psychology because I think part of the business (and life) is understanding how other people and even yourself think. Our biases, personalities, and ultimately, psychology affect how the entire world is run – from everyday relationships to the government.”

Jacob, the eldest grandchild of the prominent Wee clan in the Philippines, shared that he opted to grab the opportunity to put his parents’ fortune to great use, in a Teleradyo interview.

Jacob’s grandparents were humanitarians and philanthropists. Lee Hiong Wee, his paternal grandfather, was the Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia, and her grandmother Rosalind L. Wee, an awardee of Pearl S. Buck International Award, an organization for humanitarian aid, and PeopleAsia’s 2018 People of the Year.

Both grandparents are also known for their carrageenan business in Mindanao.

His maternal grandfather, George Go Pen Siong is the President Emeritus of the Association of Volunteer Fire Chiefs and FireFighters of the Philippines.

He acknowledges his academic excellence to his family for their immense support and valuable lessons that helped him go through the challenges in his Uni life.

“…my parents, uncles, aunts, especially, Lolo and Lola, who taught me the importance of hard work. They work very hard in their respective careers and all their examples are a guide for me to follow.”

His advice for those who aspire to achieve their educational goals: “One thing I learned was that it was often easier to retain something if you taught it to someone else. So, my friends and I would often teach each other concepts from an exam. The teacher gets to reinforce that memory, and the learned learns something new,” Wee stated in PhilStar.

Moreover, in his Facebook post, he expressed his gratitude for his achievements to the people that surrounded him along the way.

Lucky to have the opportunity to be in a space of academic humility and honesty. Lucky to be surrounded by inspiring and kind friends. And lucky to be supported by friends and family from the Philippines.

He further shared that he will soon be working in Florida for Restaurant Brands International, as part of their Leadership Program.

The University of Pennsylvania is known for its extensive training for its students, which ranked 8th placed for the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities.

University of Pennsylvania’s ranking in the 2021 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #8. The prestigious university also has distinctive alumni like Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk, actress and producer Elizabeth Banks, 45th President of USA Donald Trump, Filipino Senator Mar Roxas, and businessman Manny Pangilinan.

Photo Credit: www.facebook.com/jacob.wee.10