SM Foundation awarded around 500 incoming college students nationwide with scholarship grants yesterday at the MAAX Auditorium in Pasay City and in SM Malls and SM Stores in various provinces, simultaneously.
Of the 500 new SM college scholars, 35% are from the National Capital Region (NCR) and 65% are from the other provinces, bringing the total number of college scholars to 1,200 for school year 2019 – 2020. This year also marks another milestone for the program as it expanded its reach to students from Bataan, Daet and Sorsogon.
In SM Pampanga, proud parents of the awardees show full support to their children as they join the simultaneous orientation, awarding and contract signing at the training room of the mall. Nine awardees namely Angel Sandi Quiambao, Francis Gilbert Cortez, Dawn Loreal Garcia, Beatriz Mae Quizon, Arvee Joey De Jesus, Jaynard Ronquillo, John Michael Nanquilada and Anne Mae Tuazon from different schools in Pampanga will complete this School Year 2019 – 2020 batch of SM scholars and are ready to take on the demanding journey of College life with many challenges ahead.
For motivation to the incoming college students’ journey with SM, Emily Peña-Magat shared her journey as she herself is an SM Scholar graduate and currently employed as the Accounting Officer of SM City Pampanga for 13 years.
The SM College Scholarship program was founded on SM patriarch, Tatang Henry Sy, Sr.’s belief that education is the greatest equalizer. He believed that if he could help send one child to school, that child can then help his or her siblings finish schooling and together, they can help uplift their family out of poverty. From its inception in 1993, the program has produced 3,274 college scholar-graduates and still continues to provide thousands of Filipino youth the chance for a better future through higher education.
SM Foundation is the social development arm of the SM Group of Companies. Its programs are focused on providing better access to education, healthcare, food security through farmers’ training, shelter, and social inclusion.