BAGUIO CITY: Two-hundred students, including six from Baguio City, were officially awarded SM Foundation Inc. scholarship grants for School Year 2020-2021 through a virtual gathering last August 15. This brings the total number of current SM Scholars to 1,300 nationwide. One of the SM scholars from Baguio, an accountancy student at St. Louis University, Lea Esquejo says, “Thank you so much to SM Foundation for this opportunity. Thank you for giving a chance to all aspiring students who want to seek higher education like me. I am blessed to have this scholarship.” Adrian Clark, also an accountancy student at SLU Baguio, echoed Esquejo. Jethro Estangki, a Computer Science student at the University of the Cordilleras, said, “To the SM Foundation, thank you for this opportunity. I hope that one day I will also be able to help other students just as you have helped me.” Alastair Zeph de Guzman, another computer science scholar at the same university, said he was also thankful for the chance and opportunity. Established in 1993, the SM Foundation Scholarship Program has already produced almost 5,500 college and technical-vocational scholar-graduates, enabling them to uplift the lives of their families out of poverty. The program aims to contribute to eradicating the cycle of poverty in the country by giving scholarship grants to underprivileged but deserving students. It covers computer science, information technology, engineering, accountancy and financial management. Along with the full tuition and miscellaneous fees, SM scholars are also given monthly allowances, part-time job opportunities during semestral/Christmas breaks, exclusive job offer with the SM Group upon graduation and SM scholar enrichment activities. During a virtual gathering for the SM Scholars of 2020-2021, SMFI executive director for education Linda Atayde said the program is built on the belief of the SM Group late founder, Henry Sy Sr., that education is the greatest equalizer and that if he could help send one child to school, that child can then help his or her siblings finish schooling and, together, they can help uplift their family out of poverty. The program also enables SM to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 4 by ensuring that inclusive and equitable opportunities for quality education are opened for the youth, especially those living in grassroots communities.