UP BAGUIO STUDENT GETS FULBRIGHT SCHOLARSHIP, BOUND FOR USA

December 8, 2024 Metro BLISTT

BAGUIO CITY

Mark James M. Canilang, an undergraduate student enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Mathematics of the
University of the Philippines Baguio was selected as a recipient of the prestigious 2024 Global Undergraduate
Exchange (Global UGRAD) Program scholarship in the United States. Said program is administered by the World
Learning and the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (Fulbright Commission in the Philippines / PAEF).

Canilang is one of only eight successful nominees from 1,099 applicants to receive this award. “The Global UGRAD
Program, funded by the US Department of State, grants me a semester-long non-degree academic, cultural, and
leadership exchange in the USA,” he shared. He will attend Endicott College in Massachusetts, USA, as an international exchange student to pursue Applied Mathematics courses for the Spring 2025 semester.

“I will be representing the Philippines both in academics and cultural aspects as its Cultural Ambassador. This award will provide me the opportunity to experience and partake in collaborative academic pursuits in various scholarly communities abroad,” he proudly shared. His Global UGRAD journey will commence on January 15, 2025.
“Exactly nine months ago today, I can still vividly remember how I braved myself in attending the panel interviews after being shortlisted for the 2024 Global Undergraduate Exchange Program. I was the last interviewee. I had to skip my classes and travel to Manila over midnight, bringing all my backlogs and academic commitments while drafting a reviewer for the panel interviews,” he shared.

His panel interview took 27 minutes and he had to return to Baguio City right after to catch up with his academic requirements. He waited nine months of what he called a “roller coaster ride” with all the long hours zoom meetings, TOEFL iBT test journey and sleepless nights due to overthinking and overwhelming turn of events. Grateful for his opportunity, Mark said, “at sa lahat ng mga kaibigan at lalo na sa aking pamilya, maraming salamat sa pagmamahal at tiwala. Simula pa lang ang lahat, marami pang exciting part na paparating, at nasasabik na akong salubungin ang bawat eksena ng mahabang kwento na ito! Babalik ako at patuloy pang pagsisilbihan ang bayan!

JMPS/Baguio-PIO