SANTO DOMINGO. - Banco Popular Dominicano announced the addition of 60 new meritorious students to its Excelencia Popular scholarship program, which now has more than 326 active members and 312 graduates, reaffirming its position as the most comprehensive scholarship program in the national financial system.
This awarding of 60 scholarships is part of the 60th anniversary of Banco Popular and corresponds to the call made at the beginning of the year to pursue higher and technical studies in 32 different careers in 11 universities in the country.
This call for applications received a very high demand from young people interested in accessing one of these scholarships, exceeding 6,000 applications.
The new recipients of the Popular Excellence scholarship program with executives from Banco Popular. (External source).
Excelencia Popular currently collaborates with 23 allied academic institutions, which select the winning students for each scholarship, according to criteria developed jointly with a team from Banco Popular.
These selection criteria are academic excellence, financial needs, personal and professional motivations of each candidate, as well as knowledge of the program.
Employment and human development
The formal ceremony for the awarding of new scholarships took place at the Torre Popular, the headquarters of the banking entity, in the presence of members of the scholarship program who completed their studies, academic authorities, executives of the banking entity and special guests, and was led by two graduates of Excelencia Popular who are now collaborators of the financial organization: Michelle Acosta, Project Leader in the Project Management Department, and Nicole Mercedes, International Business Manager.
Mr. Christopher Paniagua, CEO of Banco Popular, emphasized the success of the program, based on the fact that 80% of graduates have found employment in productive sectors of the economy, some of them already working at the bank itself or in other subsidiaries of Grupo Popular.
“Today is a day to celebrate, to recognize the beginning of a journey full of promise, opportunities, and also responsibility. The Popular Excellence Scholarship is a recognition of merit and, above all, an open door to a bright future. I encourage you to make the most of this experience,” the CEO of Popular told the new scholarship recipients.
Benefits of the scholarship
Executives from Banco Popular, led by its CEO, Christopher Paniagua, along with academic authorities. (External source).
Those who receive a Popular Excellence scholarship obtain full coverage of educational expenses, technological equipment for their studies, support in the development of soft skills, formative training throughout their career in the academic field, participation in activities such as reforestation days or cultural events, access to the awards of the most outstanding scholarship recipients and the opportunity for internships and jobs.
Meanwhile, speaking on behalf of the academic institutions, the rector of the Technological Institute of Santo Domingo (INTEC), Dr. Julio Sánchez Maríñez, said, “The country has an abundance of talent; we need to create more opportunities, and we thank Banco Popular for this.” “On behalf of the scholarship recipients, the members of Excelencia Popular, their families, and our institutions, I can conclude by saying thank you, Banco Popular, for always being by our side.”.
Scholarship recipients, the protagonists
The scholarship and awards ceremony for the top graduates of Excelencia Popular included a speech by Sebastián Otero, a graduate of the Film program at Chavón with a GPA of 3.9, who spoke on behalf of all the program's graduates and expressed his gratitude to the financial organization for their support in their education.
“My experience with the Popular Excellence scholarship program has been transformative, and the
The positive impact it has had on my life is immeasurable. It has taught us that shared support and effort can open doors and create futures full of possibilities,” he told those present.
Also recognized was the young Isabel Tavárez Paulino, who completed her technical high school diploma at the Loyola Polytechnic Institute (IPL), with an academic index of 3.7.
The event agenda concluded with a presentation on the impact of the program, the screening of a testimonial video, and the conference "Financial Excellence: The Power of Your Decisions," given by financial coach Pamela Pichardo.
In addition, as part of the support offered by Excelencia Popular, it was reported that the new scholarship recipients will receive an intensive course in personal finance, which will not only improve their financial management, but will also be essential for their professional and personal growth.
