For SM late founder, Henry “Tatang” Sy Sr., education is the greatest equalizer – it is in this belief that the SM Foundation Inc. (SMFI) Scholarship Program is anchored. With the aim to contribute in eradicating the intergenerational cycle of poverty in the country, the program provides scholarship grants to economically challenged but deserving students.

Since its establishment in 1993, the program has produced more than 8,000 college and tech-voc scholar graduates. And despite the challenges posed by the pandemic in the past year, 250 students from across the country stood with grit and were named as the new batch of SM scholars for S.Y. 2021-2022.

Two of this year’s new scholars are Marjorie Co and Rich Custodio who are both from Pasay City and are taking up BS Computer Engineering at the Asia Pacific College. To date, a total of 20 scholars from Pasay have been supported by SMFI.

According to Marjorie, she applied for the scholarship because her family cannot financially support her college education, especially with her sister also entering college this year. “Seeing my father go on every day to find a source of income in order for us to graduate is a catalyst that pushed me to apply as an SM scholar.”

Aside from helping with her tuition fees, she also sees the scholarship as an inspiration in facing the challenges that come with being an engineering student and pursuing her dream to be a professional engineer someday.

“I am deeply grateful to the SM Foundation for this humbling opportunity. May you continue to help Filipino students like me that are in need of financial assistance for their studies. Rest assured that I will treat this scholarship with utmost importance and a driving force to my successes,” she said.

Rich, on the other hand, knew about the SM Foundation Scholarship Program through the recommendation of his mother. Now that he is an SM scholar, he feels a sense of relief given that his college education is already secured, but also a bit of pressure to reach or possibly exceed the expectations of his family and teachers.

Beyond just his studies, Rich believes that the scholarship can also benefit him when it comes to gaining industry experience in his field of choice. “I’ve read that there are job opportunities given to SM scholars during academic breaks. Personally, I think this can help me know what it’s like to work in a business environment and prepare me for the future,” he said. “Once again, thank you very much SM Foundation for giving me the opportunity to become one of your scholars!”

The new batch of SM scholars were officially welcomed through a virtual gathering where they learned more about the scope and benefits of the scholarship program. The event also featured some inspiring stories of current and former SM scholars to motivate the new batch to make the most of this opportunity.

Ms. Debbie Pe-Sy, Executive Director of SMFI, expressed her congratulations to the new scholars during the event and commended their dedication throughout the selection process: “Each of you deserves our admiration because I know how tough the selection process is to be awarded this scholarship! And you pressed forward and succeeded despite the extremely difficult times, and this is what you call Grit!” said Ms. Pe-Sy.

Taking off from this year’s event theme: Stand with Grit, she described “grit” as a belief that drives a person forward despite the setbacks and failures. “As opposed to persistence, grit is something that is backed by a deep motivation to change our current status to a better one.”

At present, SMFI has more than 1,300 scholars who are taking up degrees in the fields of Computer Science, Information Technology, Engineering (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Computer, and Electronics), Education (Elementary and Secondary); Accountancy, and Financial Management.