Empowering 50 Student Athletes in the Philippines

After a 3 year hiatus in offering athletic scholarship programs at Foundation University due to the COVID pandemic, it is very welcoming to note that after a very huge setback in finances affecting university operations and its ability to offer sholarships to the financially challenged families, the university has finally reopened its doors to accept talented and skilled athletes to enjoy an academic scholarship while training and representing the university in various sports activities.

The university's sports arm which is the Institute of Youth Sports for Peace accepts  athletes to apply to a sport that they are qualified in through a series of try outs -- be it volleyball, basketball, football or even badminton.  It then determines who may be accepted into the program and endorse them to the Office of Student Life for processing their academic documents depending on how many slots are being opened for this particular scholarship program.

First year level of freshmen entrants accepted to the scholarship program is entitled to a Php5,000.00 peso deduction in their tuition fees as an amateur.  They enroll into an academic program that they want to pursue at the same time train and compete in the sport that they are qualified in.

The athlete who wishes to qualify for a continuance in their sports scholarship should maintain a grade point average of 2.75 .  He/she should not have a failing grade in any subject that he/she enrolled in nor should he/she have an incomplete mark/grade.  An ahtlete enjoying the sports scholarship should do his/her best to be able to continue the program and eventually graduate in the academic program that he/she pursues.

A sports scholarship is a financial assistance for students who have skills in the field of sports which will make them achievers in their field of interest.  They can be the key to obtain a better future for their families who are at the low-income level of the community.  Seizing this opportunity can entirely change the path they want to pursue in life.

Foundation University has considered athletics as part of its Integrated Scholarship Program which is very much in line with its pursuit and dedication to qualtiy education.  The athletic scholarship program is open to those athletically gifted students who aspire to finish their education but are financially challenged. The selection of these athletes are based on evaluation of their performance in their chosen sport as a qualifier to fill in depending on the availability of slots for this program. An attained Grade Point Average is also required from those who qualified in this scholarship program to ensure holistic development of these athletes.

The Department of Education holds an annual sports festival dubbed as City Meet where student athletes from various educational insitutions in Dumaguete City compete in different sports. Foundation University athletes represent the university in this competition.  One of the sport that these athletes excel in is volleyball -- be it indoor or outdoor.

Today,  our athletes have risen back from the pandemic setback where face to face sports was totally restricted.  They have participated in the first City Meet held after three years of hiatus.