Committed to equipping Filipino educators with the knowledge and skills to serve their communities, the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) has been supporting aspiring Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) teachers through the TeachSTEM Scholarship Program since 2018.
For two young GBF scholars, the scholarship program has not only deepened their love for STEM but also strengthened their dedication to sharing that passion with their students and fulfilling their dream of giving back to their families and communities.
For Jo Ann V. Guillepa, TeachSTEM empowered her to continue serving as a youth leader while balancing her academic responsibilities. Her experience as a youth leader inspired her to teach STEM to children. “TeachSTEM and GBF gave me a vision of the kind of teacher I can become—that I, too, can do what other teachers do,” Jo Ann shared enthusiastically.
In addition to financial support, TeachSTEM provides access to capacity-building programs. “Those made me realize how invaluable GBF’s help was,” she said. “They’re not asking for anything in return—only attention and time.
Jamaica A. Lemoneras was not accepted into several scholarship opportunities before being accepted into TeachSTEM. “The TeachSTEM scholarship program was a blessing that opened my mind to the possibilities science and mathematics offer,” Jamaica explained. “STEM is the foundation of life. I want my students to realize that STEM isn’t difficult if you understand the basics.”
She also shared how TeachSTEM benefited not only her but also her family. “My family isn’t financially stable, and both my sibling and I are still studying, so I needed to find a way to help them,” Jamaica explained. “When I was accepted into TeachSTEM, my family and I celebrated that unexpected blessing.”
Two scholars, one story of gratitude: Jo Ann and Jamaica both believe that the opportunities provided by TeachSTEM have shaped them into better educators—not only in STEM but also in Filipino values such as love for family and community. Both aspire to give back to their loved ones, and TeachSTEM’s support has empowered them to pursue these dreams. As more scholars graduate through TeachSTEM, GBF remains committed to championing aspiring STEM educators.
