SM Prime’s scholarship program invests in the next generation of sustainability leaders

Led by their dedication to sustainability and inspired by the late Henry Sy Sr.’s faith in the value of education, SM Prime Holdings, Inc. (SM Prime), a prominent integrated real estate developer, has teamed up with the University of the Philippines Los Baños (UPLB) to offer scholarships.

The program, appropriately named the “SM Sustainability Scholarship,” demonstrates SM Prime’s dedication to sustainability stewardship as well as educational access.

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1h4uWMsYylmpLrW9og-PqkdO0Oxy8Hbyu?usp=drive_link

Video courtesy of SM Prime

Ten worthy students will receive full assistance from the program for their UPLB undergraduate studies, giving them the chance to major in either forestry or human ecology and earn bachelor’s degrees. These areas complement SM Prime’s emphasis on creating sustainable futures and resilient communities.

At a meet-and-greet at UPLB, the scholarship recipients—who were carefully selected for their superior academic standing and commitment to sustainability—were formally named SM Sustainability Scholars.

Each scholar will receive a full scholarship covering tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, and a book allowance, ensuring they can focus on their studies without financial worries.

During the gathering, College of Human Ecology (CHE) Dean Dr. Jennifer Amparo expressed that the pursuit of sustainability is most effectively undertaken collaboratively.

“CHE is one of the colleges that puts a premium on interdisciplinarity and trans-disciplinarity because we believe that in sustainability, you don’t work in silos. We need to work together and build each other’s skills, know-how, and also our programs together to ensure sustainability,” she said.

“I would also like to thank SM Prime for putting emphasis on this scholarship. SM Prime did not just provide the finances or scholarship. They invested the time to really meet our scholars and provided other support mechanisms to ensure that our scholars thrive in their academic lives. This is also a manifestation of SM’s commitment to sustainability by really developing our future sustainability leaders,” she added.

College of Forestry and Natural Resources’ Prof. Marilyn Combalicer also extended the college’s support to the scholars on behalf of the college’s dean, Dr. Marlo Mendoza: “We hope to continue nurturing such meaningful collaboration and initiatives that enhance our educational experience and initiatives for our students. Rest assured that we will continue providing support to our students in ensuring their growth and success in both academia and beyond.”

Meanwhile, SM Prime AVP and Head of Marketing, PR and Corporate Communications, Rida Reyes-Castillo, echoed that the fundamental values of the company are intricately interwoven with both education and sustainability.

“SM Group’s founder, Mr. Henry “Tatang” Sy, Sr. believed that education is a great equalizer, and he envisioned that sending one child to college would create ripples of social good not just for families but for an entire community,” she said. “The improvement of the well-being of the youth and the partner communities is something that we at SM invest in.”

The SM group has accepted the duty to support national development for many years by implementing social good initiatives in the areas of high-quality education, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, and disaster relief. Business growth and social development work together to create a better future for everyone by enhancing the lives of those residing in these host communities.

This is a paid partnership with SM Prime Holdings.