BAGUIO CITY – The SM College Scholarship program started with the vision of SM patriarch Henry Sy, Sr.—to send one child from a less fortunate family to college. After graduation, this child should send one sibling to school and should be able to provide a better future for the family.
Starting with only 100 scholars in 1993, the SM Scholarship Program has produced 3,000 graduates to date. Now in its 25th year, the Foundation continues to provide poor yet deserving students a chance for a better future through higher education. Currently, there are 1,000 SM Scholars enrolled in the Foundation’s 110 partner colleges and universities, nationwide.
There are 500 scholars for the new batch of SM scholars for SY 2018-2019, 300 from Provincial and 200 from the National Capital Region.
Most of the scholars are children of vendors, tricycle drivers, jeepney drivers, farmers, fishermen, laborers or unemployed. Most of them have graduated with high honors. This batch is the first batch of K+12 graduates.
Each scholar will be able to enjoy the following benefits: full tuition and miscellaneous fees, a monthly allowance , activities that will develop their character, opportunities to work at The SM Store during their summer and Christmas breaks and possible employment with the SM Group of Companies after graduation.
The awarding of the SM College Scholarships will be conducted simultaneously on April 27 in the different provincial SM malls nationwide.
In Baguio City, there are eleven recipients of SM College Scholarship Grant. The lucky scholars are the following: Joanna Mae Finatec, Maria Ruffa De Vera, Ybrille Jane Alindayo, Angela Sibayan, Kendra Joy Osngao, Adelea Lacaden, Zeniah Arizo, Jhesther Canite, Nicole Jade Gonzalo, Maybelene Fallorin and Abegail Balonglong.The partner schools in Baguio City are Saint Louis University, University of the Philippines Baguio and University of the Cordilleras.
This college scholarship program has expanded recently in the following areas: Butuan, Capiz, Ormoc, Tuguegarao and Zamboanga del Sur.
By Karren Nobres