PAYING IT FORWARD. The members of the Cocofed Alumni Association of Xavier University strike a pose with XU president Fr Roberto C Yap SJ after the signing of the memorandum of agreement creating an agriculture-focused scholarship program. Supplied photo.
The Cocofed Alumni Association of Xavier University has established an educational scholarship program to support a student in completing an agriculture degree from its College of Agriculture.
The program, officially known as “XU Cocofed Alumni Scholarship,” will grant financial assistance worth Php50,000.00 per school year to cover the recipient’s tuition and school fees.
"We launched this scholarship as a way of paying forward the opportunities and privileges we received from the Cocofed (Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc) program," said XU Cocofed Alumni Association president Sylvia Aguhob. "By doing so, we hope our scholars today will also do the same in the future, thus creating opportunities for others."
The Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid (OSFA) is tasked to screen and endorse qualified applicants for the program, under the memorandum of agreement between XU and the Cocofed alumni group, signed earlier in July.
Aggie scholar
One bona fide aggie student of XU (who is in his/her sophomore year) will be awarded the said scholarship which will run for a period of three academic years.
An applicant for the said scholarship must have the following qualifications:
• a Filipino citizen, without pending immigration application to any foreign country;
• annual gross family income must not exceed three hundred thousand pesos;
• a bona fide student enrolled in XU’s College of Agriculture;
• in good mental, physical, and emotional health;
• not have been the subject of any disciplinary action;
• in good scholastic standing; and
• enrolled in a regular load of the course at the time of the award of the grant.
Giving back
The Philippine Coconut Producers Federation Inc or commonly known as “Cocofed” has subsidized the National College Scholarship Grant Program which has supported more than 20,000 scholars nationwide since its inception in 1975.
Over 2,000 Cocofed scholars coming from various parts of Mindanao have graduated from XU.
“This project is important to our group. The scholarship fund came from the contributions of former scholars whose lives have improved through the opportunities provided for by the Cocofed scholarship program and their Xavier education,” said Aguhob.
The PAASCU-accredited College of Agriculture of XU offers seven undergraduate programs, namely, BS in Animal Science, Agricultural Engineering, Agribusiness, Agricultural Economics, Crop Science, Development Communication, and Food Technology.
“This project is also geared towards uplifting the agriculture industry, thus the qualified scholar should be enrolled in an agriculture course," said Aguhob, who is also a faculty member of the Food Technology department of XU. "Our agricultural sector needs competent professionals, especially for the coconut industry.”
Upon completion of an agriculture degree, the scholar must practice his/her profession in the Philippines for at least a year.
Aguhob sees the generosity of fellow Cocofed alumni in Mindanao as a vital component to sustain this scholarship endeavor of their association.
“Our group calls for the support from other alumni of Cocofed in hopes to fund more agriculture students in the years to come. There are efforts by some of our members to invest in a coconut-related business to help sustain this project.” ∎
For more information on the XU Cocofed Alumni Scholarship, kindly visit the Office of Scholarship and Financial Aid or send an email here.