A TOTAL of 3,325 students of MMSU are enjoying either full or partial scholarship sponsored by the university, and other government and private agencies for school year 2016 - 2017.

Of this number, 695 are academic scholars, 577 are grantees of the university’s non-academic activities; 2,004 are scholars of other government agencies, and 49 are privately-funded scholars.

Of the academic scholars, 4 are entrance scholars, 522 college scholars, and 169 university scholars. The 577 grantees are officers of the University Student Council (USC), children of MMSU employees who occupy plantilla positions, dependents of barangay officials in Ilocos Norte and nearby provinces, and students who excel in sports, athletics, and culture and the arts.

Entrance scholarship is awarded to those who graduated as high school valedictorians (with highest honours), salutatorians (with high honours) and first, second or third honourable mentions (with honours) of a class of 50 or more students for the first semester.

A valedictorian enjoys free tuition fee and a stipend of P1,500, a salutatorian enjoys free tuition fee and a stipend of P1,000; while first, second and third honourable mentions enjoy free tuition.

College scholarship is awarded to students who obtain a general weighted average (GWA) grade of 1.75 to 1.46. A college scholar enjoys free tuition fee and a stipend of P1,000 per semester. On the other hand, university scholarship is awarded to a student who obtains a weighted average of 1.45 to 1.00 and enjoys free tuition fee and a stipend of P1,500 per semester.

Cultural Study Grant is awarded to members of the university cultural troupe or the university band who shall enjoy free tuition fee, while Athletic/Sports Study Grant is awarded to athletes who have competed and won in regional athletic competitions. Tuition fee exemption is based on the highest medal won.

Other scholarship grants are the ROTC Cadets Grant, which provides free tuition fee to corps of officers; and the CSC/SC Officer Grant, which gives free tuition fee to all CSC officers.

The following government agencies are also providing scholarships to MMSU students: BFAR (2), CGB Sirib Mannalon Scholarship Program (10), CHED – COD (1), CHED Students Grant Program (1), CHED’s Tulong Dunong through Rep. Imelda R. Marcos (374), CHED’s Tulong Dunong through Sen. Antonio F. Trillanes IV (111), CHED STUFAP (188), DA-ACEF (10), DND-CHED-PASUC Scholarship Program (3), DOST (124), ESGP-PA or the so-called 4Ps (725), GSIS (2), Iskolar Ni Manang Imee – Sirib Academic (157), Iskolar Ni Manang Imee – Sirib Youth Leadership (159), Iskolar Ni Manang Imee – Binibining Ilocos Norte (7), Batac City Government (83), Municipality of Dingras (39), and the Overseas Workers’ Welfare Administration (93).

On the other hand, the following private individuals and organizations with the corresponding number of student scholars are the following: Amelia Bensan (1), Annak Ti Batac of Southern California (6), Bueno Family (1), Duldulao Scholarship Foundation (2), SEEDS – Jollibee (5), NCIP (2), Omnico Natural Resources, Inc. (12), PBED (15), and Toyota (5).

Privately-funded scholarship guidelines are specified by the donor of the scholarship grant. (By Reynaldo E. Andres)