CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- A beneficiary of the educational scholarship program of the Pampanga Provincial Government is graduating magna cum laude at the Pampanga State Agricultural University (PSAU) in Magalang town on April 18.

Vice Governor Dennis Pineda said that Kier Anthony Boydon, the PSAU magna cum laude for education, has received P3,000 in each of the four semesters that he has enrolled through the Educational Financial Assistance Program (EFAP).

“I used the money to pay dormitory and buy items for school projects,” said Boydon, 24. “The money helped me a lot to finish my study,” said this native of Barangay Sta. Monica in San Luis town.

His mother Roberta ekes a living by cooking and serves as Nanay Community Worker (NCW) in between. NCWs were organized by Pineda as health and disaster response brigades. Boydon’s father is a driver and farmer.

The second in a brood of four, he stopped schooling for five years. He worked in a computer shop for four years and as a clerk at an SM mall for five months.

Boydon is finishing his Bachelor of Science in Education course with two other awards: best student-teacher and academic excellence.

Boydon, the vice governor said, should be “an inspiration to Kapampangan youth because he has worked hard and overcame difficulties to be able to get an education.”

P273-milion educational aid

For the EFAP’s School Year 2017-2018 second semester, 463 valedictorians, salutatorians and first honorable mention graduates received P10,000 each. At least 319 second and third honorable mentions and Alternative Learning System graduates got P5,000 each while 1,595 academic awardees received P3,000 each.

Vice Governor Pineda and Governor Lilia Pineda distributed checks for the Expanded Educational Financial Assistance Program to 2,377 students on Tuesday at the Bren Z. Guiao Convention Center here.

During the distribution of educational assistance, Vice Governor Pineda encouraged the scholars to “try as much to finish your studies so you can have a good future.”

Governor Pineda and Vice Governor Pineda have championed the education of the youth. Based on partial reports, the Educational Financial Assistance Program of the Pampanga provincial government has supported 9,740 students through scholarship grants worth P273,952,060 since 2010 to 2018.