SMART Communications Inc. recently announced that 22 Tech/ECE students qualified for a one-year scholarship under the Smart Wireless Engineering Education Program (SWEEP).
Now on its second year, the telecommunications company decided to double the number of slots per school to allow more Engineering students to avail of the scholarship program.
Smart officials led by Chief Wireless Advisor Orlando Vea congratulated the new scholars in a program held in Jump, the newest digital playground built by PLDT and Smart to showcase the group’s latest products and technologies.
“Now is the best time to take up engineering because there are a lot of opportunities. The Philippines is terribly short of scientists and engineers,” said Vea.
“This huge shortfall has a crippling impact on the country’s development. In today’s world, progress is powered by technology and innovation. It is driven by the creative application of science and engineering,” said Vea.
“I am very thankful that Smart took a chance in giving me this scholarship. Smart gave me hope. It’s like having rich parents and in return, I will work hard to make the grade,” said SWEEP scholar Elidy Lecsie Balmes from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines.
The first batch of SWEEP scholars was also there to inspire this year’s group.
Four of the 13 scholars have already been hired by Smart while the remaining nine opted to focus on reviewing for the upcoming annual licensure examinations in October.
In an audio visual presentation, the first batch of scholars showed how they made use of Facebook to connect with each other.
Through Facebook, the first batch of scholars managed to mentor each other and provide each other with study materials to ensure that the entire group gets all the help they need to graduate.
The scholarship, which applies this school year, was offered to full-time graduating students enrolled in engineering or IT courses of state colleges and universities that are members of SWEEP. Scholarship benefits include tuition, book allowance per semester and a monthly stipend.
The scholarship grant is one of the components of SWEEP. The program, which started in 2003, is designed to complement the school’s existing program through lectures, on-the-job trainings and immersion exercises for both students and faculty.