With His Eminence Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of Manila as this year’s guest of honor,  225 SM scholar graduates were presented by SM Foundation to the Sy family at the SMX Convention Center, Mall of Asia.

Cardinal Tagle delivered an inspirational message to the graduates who toiled to finish their schooling and to their parents who provided them the moral guidance needed along the way.

Four (4) summa cum laude graduates— Cederic Aeron R. Baybayon, Jennifer Z. Camenting and Dan Jeward Rubis graduates of the National University and Jessica Aliana S. Habunal from the Central Philippines University in Iloilo—lead this batch of scholar graduates. Forty percent of this year’s batch of graduates finished their degrees with honors. Aside from the 4 summa cum laude, 19 completed their degrees as magna cum laude, 47 cum laude and 21 were awarded academic distinction.

The presentation of the SM scholar graduates is a yearly tradition; the occasion, memorable and emotional, is an opportunity for the Sy family to meet the graduates and their parents.  Graduates from the provinces were flown in and were billeted at a hotel near MOA to make it easier for them to participate in all activities lined up for them like the job fair where HR Managers of all SM Groups of Companies did interviews for possible job placement. .  The graduates however, are not obliged to work with any SM company while some of them have opted to join other companies and still others chose to review for their forthcoming professional licensure examinations.

Each graduate received a personalized wristwatch with his/her name engraved on it from Henry Sy Sr., and gift certificates from the Sy family.

SM Foundation maintains 1,200 scholars nationwide yearly but this year, it hopes to enroll 1,300 students.  Now on its 20th year, the SM Foundation scholarship program, the flagship project of the Foundation aims to provide college education to deserving public high school graduates who are unable to further studies due to financial difficulties. 

Aside from providing matriculation fees, SM Foundation also allocates funds for the scholars’ monthly allowance. The activities of the scholars are closely monitored by the Foundation providing them with year-long activities like training programs, value-formation seminars, Christmas parties and educational tours.  Scholars are also given summer/Christmas break jobs to enable them to earn and augment their allowances.  The Foundation also supports scholars pursuing technical and vocational programs.