22 April 2013, Pasay City, Philippines. SM Foundation, Inc. marked the 20th year of its college scholarship program with the awarding of new scholars for the school year 2013-2014.
In a ceremony held at the SMX Convention Center on April 17, SM Foundation signed up 340 new scholars for the SM Scholarship Program from only 261 in 2012 for a 30% growth. Some 170 scholars were signed up at SMX while the other 170 scholars were signed up in select SM malls. The new scholars were chosen from different parts of the country, particularly from the National Capital Region, Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinan, Baguio, Olongapo, Cauayan City (Isabela), Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Lipa, Lucena, Naga, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Tacloban City, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and General Santos.
“To you who came here today with only one dream – to acquire a college education, I say dream no more. Your SM College Scholarship is here to help you get that much-coveted college diploma,” Ms. Carmen Linda Atayde, SM Foundation Executive Director for Education said.
Aside from free tuition, SM scholars are also entitled to free school miscellaneous fees and a monthly allowance, and a chance to work at the SM Department Stores and Supermarkets during their Christmas and summer breaks. Even if there are no strings attached when they graduate, the scholars still receive job offers from the SM Group of Companies and affiliates.
SM Foundation has 77 partner schools nationwide for its scholarship program.
In 1993, the scholarship program of SM Foundation was launched by Mr. Henry Sy, Sr. as a means of helping promising students whose families have no financial capability to provide them with a college education. Mr. Sy envisions that the SM scholars would in turn help in sending their siblings to school thereby increasing their opportunity to have a better quality of life. Since its institution, the SM Foundation has given such college education to over 1,500 Filipino youths.
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For further information, please contact:
Linda M. Atayde
Executive Director for Education
SM Foundation, Inc.
Tel.: 831-8282
E-mail: education@sm-foundation.org
Date: Monday, April 22, 2013