Scranton Scholar Mariz A. Agraviador

Mariz A. Agraviador, a Bachelor of Elementary Education Major in Special Education senior, is one of only two Scranton scholars in the country selected to be part of the Scranton Scholar’s Leadership Program in Korea.

This week-long all-expense paid program nurtures women leaders and will be attended by Scranton scholars and alumni from 14 countries – Cambodia, Cameroon, China, Congo, Honduras, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines and Vietnam.

But before getting this far, Mariz had her fair share of difficulty coming to Silliman.

Mariz was born and raised in Dumaguete. She completed basic education at Magsaysay Memorial Elementary School and Negros Oriental High School. At a young age, she already she knew her passion was in serving the community and becoming a teacher. It was then natural for her to be active in socio-civic activities as she got into college.

Now on her final year in Silliman, Mariz remains active in the Focolare Movement of the Roman Catholic Church which promotes the ideals of unity and universal brotherhood. She is also a member of the Gabaan Youth Lead, a group of young volunteers that goes to far-flung areas around Negros Oriental to teach both kids and young adults self-awareness and help them develop their leadership skills.

It was largely because of her involvements in the community and the church that she received the Scranton Scholarship during her junior year in Silliman. The Scranton Scholarship is given to young women who come from partner institutions in developing countries of the Scranton Women’s Leadership Center (SWLC), following an arrangement with the United Board for Christian Higher Education in Asia. The Scholarship was created in 2008 by SWLC in Korea. SWLC is committed to empowering women to live up to their full potential and leadership with human dignity so that they may contribute to the betterment of their own communities and the world. Silliman hosts four Scranton scholars this school year.

The Scranton Scholarship is a blessing to Mariz. It came at a time when she would have quit college due to financial constraints.

When Mariz graduated from high school, she had her yes set on Silliman for college; but she knew that time that her parents could not afford to send her to the University.  Determined, she then asked an aunt to help her financially. She promised that she would do her best to get a scholarship. While her aunt agreed, Mariz failed to get a scholarship at first shot. Mariz did not lose hope; she explored other options. She applied as a student assistant in order to defray expenses that her aunt’s support was not able to cover.

Becoming a student assistant turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was not only her ticket to getting some resources but also to enhancing her appreciation of her capabilities. She was assigned to the Filipiniana Section at the Silliman University Library. After two years, she moved to the Guidance and Counselling Division. There, she met, Ms Maria Arlinie Acupanda, the office assistant, who has been generous in training her and whom she now looks up to as her second mom. In the process, Mariz overcame her shy personality. Her encounters with people with different personalities through the work that she did boosted her self-confidence.

All was going well for Mariz until her third year in college when her aunt could no longer support her. What she was receiving as a student was not also enough to pay for her tuition and other fees. Providentially, it was also around this time when the Scholarship and Aid Division announced the opening of the Scranton Scholarship. Mariz jumped at the opportunity. Because of her good academic performance and socio-civic involvements, she obtained a favorable endorsement from the University and applied directly to SWLC, which administers the scholarship. Mariz was accepted and now enjoys the Scranton Scholarship that entitles her to a full subsidy for tuition and fees.

And because one of the requirements of the Scranton Scholarship is for her to maintain a grade of at least 3.0, Mariz has found more inspiration to aim higher. In fact, she is now an honor student. In February 2018, she made her parents proud when they came to the campus for the first time and saw her march the Luce during the Honors Day.

Mariz persevered. The scholarship that she promised her aunt came later in college, but she did not give up. Even when she was well aware of the competitiveness of the Scranton Scholarship and the comprehensive selection process for its leadership program, her optimism and determination prevailed. And it is through her experience that Mariz encourages students to continue chasing their dreams and to never be discouraged when they face setbacks in life. She wants to set an example to others that nothing is impossible as long as they give their best and continue to put Christ in the center of their life.