TEN students who qualified for the 2021 Aboitiz College scholarship virtually signed a memorandum of agreement with the Aboitiz Foundation on July 28, 2021.

The scholars will take up engineering and business courses in various universities like the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University and University of Santo Tomas.

The scholars underwent a rigorous screening process and interviews.

“From this day, as you carry the badge of being an Aboitiz scholar, you are choosing to make a positive commitment and change in your life. We hope that the Aboitiz core values of integrity, teamwork, innovation, and responsibility will serve as your compass to succeed in your studies. In the next 4-5 years, we will be here to help and guide you.,” Maribeth Marasigan, president and COO of Aboitiz Foundation, said during the signing of the memorandum of agreement.

“What sets the Aboitiz College Scholarship Program apart is that it goes beyond paying your tuition fee and sending your allowance. The program creates relationships and builds a community of scholars. Expect that  Aboitiz Foundation will engage you, teach you, and form you to become the best leaders of tomorrow,” she added.

Kenny Arada considered the scholarship a well-deserved blessing after all the struggles his family faced during the pandemic.

Arada shared that his family’s livelihood was severely affected by the pandemic. Arada’s father, a security guard, is the sole breadwinner in the family of seven.

To help his family during the several lockdowns, Arada worked as a tutor to a junior high school student. In exchange, he received P100 for every module that they finished.

As his family slowly recovered from the pandemic and to augment the loss of livelihood of some family members, Arada’s family sold beauty products such as soap and perfume online.

Arada was also an Aboitiz Foundation scholar in high school.

He will take up Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering at the University of the Philippines Diliman.

Meanwhile, Math wiz Lance Ezrac Matthew Calamiong— who won in several math competitions here and abroad— shares his gift to others by being a volunteer tutor.

“I have always been open to tutoring my schoolmates if they ever need help with their math lessons. I also tutored students from other schools with my former math teacher. He organized a tutor session with students from his former school in Sta. Ana, Manila,” Calamiong said.

Like many others, his family’s source of income was also affected by the pandemic. To help his family, he did freelance work such as transcription writing, essay writing and math tutoring to earn some money.

“By getting accepted into the Aboitiz College Scholarship Program, my dreams only became more firm. I am a very ambitious person and being an Aboitiz Scholar is a huge step in the right direction. Since mechanical engineers work with machinery, I expect to learn numerous things from the experts in the Aboitiz Group,” Calamiong said.

Calamiong will take up Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering in the University of the Philippines Diliman.

The Aboitiz College Scholarship Program supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 4 of ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education and promotes lifelong learning opportunities for all. The scholarship covers full tuition, monthly allowance, gadget incentive, Latin honor incentive, and free learning sessions. Since its inception in 2000, the program has supported 975 scholars nationwide.