By Elpidio Estioko
Ten out of 28 applicants made it to the 2018-2019 The Global Urdanetanians (TGU) scholarship program, according to TGU President Yvonne San Juan-Sera.
The Southern California-based non-profit organization president San Juan-Sera said the 10 new scholars will join 13 other scholars who are all enrolled in colleges and universities in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan, Philippines. Five years ago, their first scholar jointly sponsored by Pangasinan Brotherhood-USA (PB-USA) graduated from the University of Pangasinan in Dagupan City, Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), and is now gainfully employed as an RN of a hospital in Urdaneta City.
The scholars are: Jerimae Benagan, Catablan High School, who will be taking Engineering; Debracel Fernandez, Urdaneta City National High School (UCNHS), Journalism/Flight Attendant; Christian dela Cruz, Pedro T. Orata High School, Engineering; Jayson Tabal, Mariano Umipig High School, Teaching; Christian Soriano, UCNHS, Nursing; Jeremy Carpio, UCNHS, Teaching; Donna Mae Sibayan, Cabaruan High School, IT; Gerald Sumera, San Jose-Leet High School, Teaching; Jennie Molina, Lananpin High School, Engineering; and Judith dela Cruz, Catablan High School, HRM.
The 28 applicants were recommended by their respective principals and duly attended by their barangay captains that they are residents of the barangay as early as the last quarter of last year. Before the actual face-to-face interview in February this year, they were screened by TGU Urdaneta coordinators headed by Ramil San Juan, Dr. Fe Ranada, Dr. Belinda San Juan, Dr. Clare Adalem, Atty. Wreigh Paris, and Elpidio Angeles, Jr, among others.
In February, this year, President Sera and her husband Ron Sera flew to the Philippines to spearhead the face-to-face interview. Before the interview, the applicants were asked to submit an essay which was one of the steps in the selection process. After the interview, final selection was based on ocular inspection of candidates’ houses and parent’s interview to determine if they really are qualified under the category belonging to a poor family.
Their individual letters indicating that they were selected as TGU scholars will be presented by TGU through the school principals during the April 1 – 6, 2018 graduation ceremonies of the various high schools. The signing of the scholarship agreement (Memorandum of Agreement) will be done on April 7, 2018 at the Audio Visual Room of the City government.
