USTEAAI welcomes 14 new scholars for A.Y. 2022-2023

The UST Engineering Alumni Association, Inc. (USTEAAI) welcomed 14 UST Faculty of Engineering (FoE) student scholars for the Academic Year 2022 - 2023, last August 2022.

The USTEAAI Scholarship is a financial assistance and scholarship program conferred by UST Engineering alumni to deserving second to fourth-year engineering students of the University.

To qualify for the scholarship, the duly recognized second, third, or fourth-year student applicant must have a General Weighted Average (GWA) not lower than 2.50, have no incurred failing grades in any academic subject, and not be a recipient of any other scholarship grant.

Along with the application form and other documents required, the student applicants were tasked to submit an essay answering the prompt “why you should be given a USTEAAI scholarship” in not less than 50 words. The applicants were also further screened through an interview.

When asked about her experience during the application process, Alyzza Bianca Lopez, one of the new USTEAAI scholars,

Annual engineering recruitment week remains online

The Engineering Student Council (ESC) launched the annual Engineering Recruitment Week, titled “R101: Engineering Recruitment Week,” last October 17, with applications still held virtually.

The virtual week-long event commenced with a Facebook Live featuring organizations in the Faculty of Engineering (FoE), giving glimpses of the experiences and responsibilities awaiting the student applicants.

Prof. Angelo R. dela Cruz, Ph.D., PECE, UST FoE Acting Dean, officially kickstarted the event with his opening remarks, acknowledging the efforts of the organizations and their participation in the event. He recalled the lessons people learned and lost in the time of the pandemic, its disruption in people’s way of life, and how those brought out the best in each person.

“With all the lost opportunities in the past three years of the pandemic, we hope that many of our students will not miss this opportunity to participate, be involved, and become a member of the student organizations of the Faculty of Engineering,” Dean dela Cruz elaborated.

In the opening program, titled “R101: Prologue,” one student leader from each engineering department and how they were able to manage both their academics and extracurricular activities.

The representatives shared the importance of time management in being an organization member and a student. They gave tips on how to balance their responsibilities, such as avoiding procrastination and learning how to prioritize tasks properly. Management applications such as Notion and TimeTree were a couple of the softwares suggested by the speakers that would assist students in managing their time.

This was succeeded with films-inspired introduction of the different organizations and an audio-visual presentation showcasing their organization’s mission, vision, and benefits to its members.

Carlos Joaquin T. Dimaguila, UST-ESC Interim Executive Vice-President, formally commenced the event with his closing remarks where he expressed his gratitude to the organizers and attendees of the event and reminded student applicants that serving the student body is a commitment to uphold everyday.

“The pleasure in leading is not [through] title-seeking but the [through] people you transform and those hearts you have touched,” he concluded his speech.

The following organizations participated in this year’s Engineering Recruitment Week: Rotaract Club – UST Engineering Unit, Cisco Networking Academy Gateway (CNAG), UST Engineering Commission on Elections (COMELEC), One Voice Engineering Chorale (OV), UST ChemicalEngineering Society (ChES), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (UST-IEEE) Student Branch, UST Electrical Engineering Circuit (EEC), UST Mechanical Engineering Club (MEC), American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-conditioning Engineers- UST (ASHRAE), Engineering Dance Troupe (EDT), UST Network of Electronics Engineering Students (NECES), UST Association of Civil Engineering Students (ACES), UST Industrial Engineering Circle (IEC), Operations Research Society of the Philippines – UST Chapter (ORSP), and Thomasian Engineer (TE) – the student publication of UST FoE.

said that she willingly allotted much time for it and paid the needed expenses for the transportation and requirements to complete her application.

“It really shows siguro na kung kailangan mo talaga nitong scholarship na ‘to, tatrabuhuin mo ‘yon,” Lopez quoted.

She added, “At that time, personally, it was really really helpful kasi we were financially challenged talaga at that time. Noong nalaman ko talagang natanggap ako sa scholarship, it was really timely kasi at that time hindi na talaga kami … hindi na namin alam kung paano kukuha ng tuition fee for this semester. So, I am really, really grateful to USTEAAI for this opportunity.”

When asked about what he looks forward to after being granted the scholarship, Wilbeth Lhance Sacro, also a new USTEAAI scholar, said that he looks forward to meeting other future engineers from other departments—an opportunity to steer away from the “linear” experience he would have had if he were not to become a USTEAAI scholar.

“May mga kasama rin po ako na scholars dito from IE, from EE, [...] and malalaman ko po yung perspective nila sa engineering, which will help for my growth in the future,” he stated, adding that this experience would help him “get out of his comfort zone.”

As part of their duties as new scholars of USTEAAI, Lopez noted that they are also tasked to help with the internal events of the organization as well as help with programs of the University geared towards helping Thomasian engineering students. She further added that lending them a hand was their way of giving back to the association as scholars.

“Nakipag-partner si Engineering CCC pati si Alumni Association kung paano ma-help yung students—so now, we are currently being tutors; we are giving supplementary instruction,” Lopez said while talking about the program offered by the USTEAAI to assist those who garnered low scores in the Engineering Proficiency test given to first-year students.

Furthermore, when asked about how she plans to maintain her scholarship, “Doing my best part in USTEAAI means that I have to be a good student, I have to perform well, I have to study hard, I have to get my grades pumped,” Lopez said.

Lopez also said that they are taught by USTEAAI how to help people, give back, and be grateful, which she said is one of the best driving forces for one to be successful and keep themselves grounded. On the same note, Sacro also responded that he was inspired by USTEAAI to give back to Thomasian engineers in the future since he “wants to share this blessing and opportunity” with other future engineers.

The USTEAAI is an alumni association of the UST Faculty of Engineering that aims to be an active, committed, and service-oriented association of Thomasian alumni professionals in the fields of engineering and technology.