‘Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.’- Malcolm X
AS the country begins a new school year, allow me to share my experiences with a team that handled the screening process of a scholarship program for a foundation.
The announcement of the online applications for scholarships (Instagram, FB, TikTok) received a staggering 91,000 applicants. This clearly shows that the youth place much importance on education in their effort to better their lives. However, only 35,000 took the qualifying examination for one reason or another. Either there may have been glitches in the wi-fi connections nationwide, or they had a change of heart because of the stringent requirements of the grant (92 percent general average; preferred degrees, i.e., engineering, education, accounting, IT courses; a family income of at least P250,000/annum; plus enrollment in over 100 partner schools/universities nationwide). After the written examinations, there were online interviews conducted in the regions by a five-member team for one month. House visits were also conducted by the team.
Many qualified but opted to accept the grants given by the DOST, DepEd and other private institutions which offered higher stipends.
For this year, the foundation welcomes 900 new scholars enrolled in partner institutions of learning, 60 percent from the regions and 40 percent from NCR.
I was assigned to interview about 200 applicants from Eastern Visayas together with Greg who dealt with ascertaining the financial capacity of the parents. The foundation requires that the family income should at least be P250,000 a year. This is because of the foundation’s experience with past scholarship grantees who had unemployed parents. The scholars were virtually “robbed” of their monthly stipends which went into paying for family expenses.
My interview questions centered not only on the intellectual capacity of the applicants but were also aimed at gauging their drive, enthusiasm and self-motivation. I also tried to see if they had leadership skills. I noticed that most of the applicants had excellent communication skills. I was quite embarrassed when I helpfully suggested that if it would help, they could explain themselves in Visayan, only to find that they didn’t need to at all.
I was so impressed that I gave many of them a grade of 95 to 98 percent. Many of those I interviewed qualified for a grant from the foundation but chose the scholarships offered by the Department of Science and Technology either because the degree programs of their choices were not being offered by the scholarship program or their preferred schools/university was not a partner school.
An aspiring SM scholar must be: a Grade 12 graduate from public and private schools in the areas covered, with a general weighted average grade of at least 92 percent or its equivalent for Grade 12 – first semester; and with a total household income of P250,000 a year. Applicants from private schools must have a DepEd voucher and must be Grade 10 finishers from public high schools.
They can choose from among the following specializations: accounting, business courses, information technology, engineering and education. These specializations give them better chances of getting employment with the mother company. Aside from free tuition, they get monthly allowances and part-time job opportunities during semestral and Christmas breaks, an opportunity for them to earn.
Tawnie Kimberly Guanzon, one of my interviewees, said that her biggest dream was to help her mother who was the family’s sole breadwinner. “When I see her sweating, earning a living by selling in the public market I am greatly motivated to finish my studies so I can help out.” Her grades in math were outstanding; the influence of an engineer uncle made her pursue a degree in civil engineering. She was accepted as a scholar this coming schoolyear.
Another applicant who got a 99 percent grade from me, Jet Martine Alcaraz, was torn between taking up mathematics or engineering. He was president of the Supreme Student Council and editor-in-chief of their school publication. In an inter-school competition, he took second place in the current events competition.
In Leyte, aside from Tawnie & Jet, those who qualified were Humphrey Gerd Anthony Maglinte, Eljan Nico Caidog, Bridgette May Canasta, Lorain Macayan, Shayne Montecillo, Joriz Tagolino, Bea Tismo & Rusty Gabriel Tuyom. Many of them will either go to the East Visayas State Uiversity or Leyte Normal University while some opted to study in NU in Manila. Other applicants from the Visayan region who made it were: Hannah Montederamos, Liane Tiffany Ermitano and Mary Nicole Bondoc of Cebu; Theresa Lim of Iloilo; Novana Fae Villarma of Bohol; Charles Bergonio of Capiz; and Myro Andrada of Bacolod.
In Mindanao, Wesley Lance Angus will take up BS Accounting at the Ateneo de Zamboanga, Emferdin Mozo will take up BSED major in English at the University of Mindanao while Diana Jane Amoguis will take up BS Accounting at the Notre Dame Dadiangas University.
These students will receive their acceptance to the SM Foundation scholarship program on July 20. Those from the NCR region will be awarded their scholarship at the SMX while those in the regions will receive theirs in their respective provinces.
A quote attributed to the late South African President Nelson Mandela still holds true: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
In climbing their spiral these scholars feel that their most powerful weapon to make their climb easier is to get the best education.
