Telco presents latest batch of Sweep scholars

TWELVE engineering, information technology, and math undergraduates have received financial assistance as well as internship and other opportunities after being presented with scholarship grants by mobile leader Smart Communications, under its Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (Sweep).

The Sweep scholarship program was launched in 2011 to offer last-mile support to deserving graduating students taking engineering, IT, and science courses. Smart has awarded scholarships to 67 students in the last five years, many of whom have gone on to work for the company.

Ladia considers the scholarship a big help for his family. “My father died many years ago. Being the eldest boy, I now stand as father to my six siblings, one of whom is visually impaired. This scholarship is a big blessing for us,” he said.

Bermillo is similarly thankful for the financial support. “My father who used to work in Libya has not been able to go back because of the situation there, so I am very grateful for this scholarship.”

Ladia added that he is thankful for the opportunity to see firsthand how innovations are being developed by Smart.

The 12 scholars, some of whom came from as far as Mindanao, recently toured Smart’s main headquarters in Makati City and the office of its innovations unit Voyager.

Gervacio said the scholarship has motivated him to do better in school. “I have observed great improvement in my grades. The scholarship also helps me focus more on my studies because I no longer have to worry about money for school expenses.”

The scholarship is one of the components of Sweep, Smart’s industry-academe linkage initiative which seeks to improve engineering and IT education in the country, and help schools produce industryeady graduates or future technopreneurs (technology entrepreneurs).

For more information, please visit www.smartsweep.ph or facebook.com/sweepschools pr