A scholar of AboitizPower subsidiary Cotabato Light and Power Company (CLPC) graduated with honors last March from the Notre Dame University in Cotabato City.

Jasser Unged Mohammad, 20, graduated cum laude with a degree in business administration,  major in financial management. He attained a general weighted average of 1.

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The second of seven children, Jasser thought he would not be able to go to college because his parents were in a financial bind. His father earned living selling burgers while his mother used to work as a domestic helper in the Middle East.

“After finishing high school, I was concerned about my parents’ financial ability to send me to college. I applied for scholarship grants available in the city and even considered the idea of being a working student. Then someone told me about the Aboitiz Scholarship through Cotabato Light and Power Company,” Jasser recalled.

“I was deeply humbled and honored to receive the scholarship. I was able to attend college as a full-time student and AboitizPower provided for everything I needed and all I had to do study hard and keep my grades. The financial burden placed on my parents was reduced. It was really a great relief as I spent less time worrying about my finances, particularly during exams,” Jasser said.

CLPC’s scholarship program was first launched in 2013 as part of the Aboitiz group’s commitment in helping advance its people and communities through education. To date, CLPC has had 13 scholars enrolled in accountancy, marketing, business administration, and electrical engineering, among others. Apart from full tuition coverage, scholars also received Php 3,000 a month as allowance.

Jasser was also part of the annual Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit in November 2016 where 91 students from all over the country gathered for a two-day conference on leadership and business.

“The scholarship didn’t only help me with my finances, but also exposed me to real-world activities in ways a four-walled classroom cannot do. I was able to join the 11th Aboitiz Future Leaders Business Summit. The summit empowered us to be able to influence our peers and also to become engaged and be global leaders,” he said.

The CLPC scholarship program has produced seven college graduates who are now working in government and private offices.

“I am without words to express how thankful I am for all the opportunities provided to me by the Aboitiz Company. This scholarship represented hope, support, inspiration, and encouragement, ” Jasser said.

Jasser plans to pursue a career in banking.