Loyola Schools Honors Freshman Financial Aid Scholars for School Year 2021-2022
Hosted by the Office of Admission and Aid, this special gathering for incoming freshman scholars is a testament to Ateneo's mission of making world-class Jesuit education accessible to all regardless of financial capability.
The Loyola Schools held a virtual welcome reception for 331 freshman financial aid scholars on 5 June 2021.
University President Fr. Roberto C. Yap, S.J. started the event by sharing his personal experience as an Atenean financial aid scholar during his college years. "Every year, Ateneo de Manila supports hundreds of students from across the country to get top quality education and formation through our financial aid schemes. Our need-based financial aid schemes have helped thousands of young people through the years, including a young boy from Cebu who grew up to be Ateneo de Manila's 31st leader – me," he said.
Vice-President for the Loyola Schools Dr. Maria Luz Vilches was also on hand to greet the financial aid scholars and invite them to make Ateneo their new home. "Allow us to accompany you in your journey of discovering your inner strengths and gifts and in helping you soar to great heights."
This year's scholarship application process drew the most number of scholarship applications in history. From this competitive pool, 331 high school seniors were awarded financial aid scholarships, translating to roughly one in every eight freshmen for the coming school year. Financial aid grantees are selected based on intellectual ability and proven consistent academic performance, financial need, and potential for greater service to the community in the future. Tne new cohort of scholars joins a diverse community of learners, thinkers, and doers.
"Every recipient of a scholarship is a beneficiary of Ateneo's dream to help more and to help a scholar become more," said Jose Maria Edito K. Tirol, Director of the Office of Admission and Aid.
Financial aid scholars are also entitled to other forms of assistance, which include the following: internet allowance amounting to PhP 10,000 per semester, COVID vaccination subsidy, provision of laptop on an as-needed basis as well as academic and social support through Ateneo Gabay, a student organization run by fellow scholars.
Current financial aid scholars Cristina Batalla (4 - AB Developmental Studies) and Rojons Evangelista (2 - BS Chemistry - MSE) also shared their personal stories as Atenean financial aid scholars.
"I want you to know that choosing to be an Ateneo scholar means opening yourself to a gift that never stops giving. Join us, be part of the community, and know that this is something you will never regret," said Batalla.
Evangelista shared the same sentiment.
"Dati yung bitbit ko lang yung ambisyon ko, wala akong nalalapitan. Wala akong naninirthan pero dahil sa kanila, sa patuloy nilang pag-aalaga sa akin ay patuloy akong nakakapag-aral sa Ateneo ( I didn’t have anyone to rely on; I didn’t even have a house—what I had was my ambition. But they continued to care for me and because of that, I could continue studying at Ateneo)."
This year's welcome reception for financial aid scholars was organized by the Office of Admission and Aid in coordination with the Office of the President and the Office of the Vice-President for the Loyola Schools.
