Ten outstanding STEM students (TOSS) have been officially selected for the 2025–2026 academic year, through a joint initiative between SM Retail’s Shop & Share program and Mastercard, in support of the SM Foundation’s College Scholarship Program.
The scholars were selected through a comprehensive three-stage process, which included application screening, online examinations, portfolio assessments, essay submissions, and final panel interviews held at the SM Retail Headquarters in Pasay City. The selection was led by a panel of evaluators from SM Foundation, SM Retail, SM Store, and Mastercard.
From a competitive pool of applicants, 20 finalists were shortlisted for the final round. Ultimately, the top ten students — John Vincent Adame, Cazandra Mae Bolo, Cris Dela Cruz, Harvey Julian Ermitanio, Chandre Julia Jaen, Yasmin Lardizabal, Alison Manimtim, Odessa Jean Meria, Khritz Junien Leigh Nacua, and Jocelyn Villahermosa — were chosen based on their academic excellence, achievements in STEM-related co-curricular activities, and performance during the interviews.
Each of the ten awardees will receive a full college scholarship grant, professional mentorship, participation in enrichment activities, potential career opportunities within the SM Group and Mastercard, and brand-new laptops to support their academic journey.
The TOSS program reflects the strong and continuing collaboration between the SM Group and Mastercard. It underscores their shared commitment to promoting education, empowering youth, and nurturing the next generation of leaders in the field of STEM.
