WHILE some varsity scholars get to pursue a professional career in their respective sports, others have opted to work as employees in private companies or government agencies.
Davao City colleges and universities offer varsity scholarships to indigent or underprivileged yet talented and skilled students who wish to finish their studies through sports.
Among them are University of Mindanao (UM), Emar Human and Environmental College, Rizal Memorial Colleges (RMC), Jose Maria College (JMC), Agro-Industrial Foundation College of the Philippines (AIFCP), Holy Cross of Davao College, DMMA College of Southern Philippines and Mats College of Technology.
Emar president Ma. Lita Montalban earlier said that they give out varsity scholarships to deserving students since sports is the best intervention for values formation and keeping them away from gangs and vices.
"Our student athletes also give the best advertisement for our schools," Montalban said, adding that they don't have classification for their varsity scholars as long as they are qualified to play in juniors basketball, volleyball, track and field, taekwondo, badminton, table tennis, sepak takraw, football and chess.
Holy Cross of Davao College sports director Rudy Salvador, for his part, said they currently have 130 scholars in judo, track and field, table tennis, volleyball, basketball and chess. All are class A scholars enjoy free tuition and miscellaneous fees with monthly P500 allowance and P500 dorm allowance for those coming from outside the city. Some of these come from typhoon-hit Davao Oriental and landslide and flood-prone Compostela Valley.
He said, "The success of our varsity scholarship program is seen through the many student-athletes who have already graduated. Most of them are now working in banks and in other companies. We are also catering those from the provinces, giving them opportunities to study while they also play for the school. We instill in our scholars that they are students first before they are athletes."
As long as they pass all subjects, HCDC athletes can keep their scholarships. Former Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) player John Paul Escobal and Superliga's best opposite spiker Mary Grace N. Berte of Foton are among HCDC's noted athletes.
RMC, for its part, has at least 50 varsity scholars in football, basketball, track and field and volleyball.
Sports coordinator Annie Mana-ay said class A athletes, those who have competed in Palarong Pambansa and other national competitions and winners in regional events, avail of free tuition and miscellaneous fees while class B athletes, city meet players and and beginners, get free tuition and half of the miscellaneous fees.
RMC product Sunday Salvacion last played for GlobalPort Batang Pier in the PBA.
UM, meanwhile, has over 200 varsity scholars in different sports that are catered in the Private Schoolas Athletic Association (Prisaa). They are categorized as class A (national-caliber) and class B (regional champions). Free tuition and miscellaneous fees are given to class A athletes while class B athletes pay a percentage of the tuition and miscellaneous fees. They are given "chits" for their meals during three times a week training aside from being provided with free rubber shoes and playing uniforms.
PBA Star Hotshots' Peter June Simon is among notable UM standout varsity scholars.
These varsity scholarship programs are indeed very helpful to both students and school administrations. The athletes serve as ambassadors for their colleges and universities that in turn allow them to pursue their studies for free.
