Newsletter
As the famous saying goes, “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
This is what the SM scholars believe in—that education is their key to uplift not just their own, but also their family’s economic status. Just recently, SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI), the corporate social responsibility arm of SM, welcomed 250 new college students to their SM College Scholarship Program for school year 2021-2022 which was streamed on SMFI’s official Facebook page. With the addition of these college freshmen, the total number of current SM scholars is now at more than 1,300.
SM SCHOLAR LISLIE JOY LEOCADIO
One of the 250 new SM scholars for this batch is Lislie Joy Leocadio of Pangasinan. She’s taking up Bachelor of Science in Accountancy at the Kingfisher School of Business and Finance. Her father is a tricycle drive while her mother works as a canteen helper. At a young age, Lislie witnessed how her family struggle to make ends meet. This fueled her desire to finish her education and later on land a good paying job. “Elementary pa lang ako ay randam ko na ang hirap ng aking magulang sa pagpapa-aral sa amin. Alam ko pong mahirap magpaaral sa kolehiyo kaya naghanap ako ng scholarship na makatutulong sa amin. Doon ko nalaman ang tungkol sa SM Foundation,” Lislie shared.
SM SCHOLAR MARJORIE CO
Another SM scholar is Marjorie Co of Pasay City is taking up Bachelor of Science in Computer Engineering at the Asia Pacific College. Her father works in the Pasay City hall while her mother is an on-call masahista.
“The more you realize how poverty limits your opportunities in life, the more likely you are to feel down. But for me, there is no room for giving up. At ‘yan ang aking pinanghahawakan up until now,” she said.
“Pagnaka-graduate na po ako, gusto kong makapasok sa isang magandang kumpanya, kumita at makapag-ipon para magkaroon kami nang sariling bahay. Ngayon po kasi nagrerenta lamang kami. Pangarap ko po na mabigyan ko sila ng magandang buhay para ‘di na magtrabaho nang sobra sina papa,” Marjorie tearfully ended. SMFI, through its Scholarship program, provides deserving and qualified students with access to college education and technical- vocational studies since 1993.
“Ako po ang panganay, kailangan po na laging mag- tiyaga, maging masipag para makapag-aral din po sa magandang school ‘yung dalawa ko pong nakababatang kapatid,”she added.