28/09/2025
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"People often perceives us DOST Scholars as privileged because of the perks we receive like the monetary assistance, well they're not wrong, but for us, the real privilege is having the sense of responsibility strongly reinforced. It pushes us to strive more, and be better not just for ourselves, but also for the community."
For DOST scholars, the scholarship is more than just financial assistanceโit is an opportunity to live out excellence and responsibility. At Isabela State UniversityโEchague, these values have found a stronger voice through a newly created organization: officially accredited with the name SEI-YENTIA and also known as Association of ISU-E DOST Scholars.
Formed just this August 2025, SEI-YENTIA, which stands for Scholars of Excellence & Innovation for Youth Empowerment, Nation-building, Technology, Ingenuity & Advancement, was born out of the collective vision of scholar leaders. Its creation was inspired by the leadership camps of DOST-SEI, with a regional mother organization serving as its guiding structure. โWe wanted to form a community of DOST scholars that will serve as our unifying bond,โ said President Hany Mae Ulep. โItโs also about fostering a healthy community culture and giving scholars a safe space as they continue their academic endeavors.โ
The mission of SEI-YENTIA is ambitious yet inspiring: to be recognized not just locally or regionally, but nationwide, as a community that produces excellent scholar leaders who promote initiatives that uplift others. Ulep emphasized that the organization is anchored on the core values of professional excellence, servant leadership, and social responsibilityโprinciples that they embody as every Leadership Camps end that serves as a reminder to every scholar that their journey is not only personal but also a contribution to nation-building.
Even before the official creation of the organization in the campus, SEI-YENTIA has already marked its presence through projects that reflect both compassion and creativity. One of these are participating in Regional Scholars Leadership Camp (SLC ), a self-enrichment program where scholar leaders practice communication and leadership skills, ensuring that personal growth complements academic excellence. Another initiative is ISKAmpaign, which seeks to bridge the gap in awareness about scholarship opportunities. โNot everyone knows about the DOST scholarship,โ Ulep shared. โSo we go out to nearby communities and help incoming students with their online application forms. We want them to see that opportunities are within their reach.โ
During the tense season of scholarship examinations, the organization also participated in an initiative lead by their mother organization ACVAYS (Association of Cagayan Valley Active Young Scholars), the ISKO-OPS, a support drive that provides snacks, exam essentials, and moral encouragement for aspiring scholars. Instead of the old tradition where examinees would break their pencils after the test, scholars encouraged them to donate the pencils insteadโa small but symbolic gesture of moving from stress to solidarity.
Adding to its efforts, the SEI-YENTIA has also prepared for the launching of Tindahan ni Aling Nena-ISKOmerch, a project inspired by a song used by Region 2 Partcipants during the NPSC 2025 (National Patriot Scholars Congress) to showcase the culture and tradition of the region. This initiative will produce official merchandise like shirts and lanyards to strengthen scholar identity and camaraderie.
These efforts may appear modest, but their impact resonates across the scholar community. From guiding applicants in securing scholarships, to serving as cheerers helping the applicants' morale up as they reach the final phase, SEI-YENTIA has created ripples of encouragement and solidarity. For many, and as the current President of the organization perceives it, the organization has become more than just a student groupโit is a family that celebrates victories, eases anxieties, and motivates its members to excel for a greater purpose.
Though still young, SEI-YENTIAโs potential is immense. Its foundation in leadership and service positions it to become a major voice not only within ISUโE but also in the broader academic and civic community. As Ulep put it, quoting their mission statement, โWe dream that SEI-YENTIA will grow beyond the campus, beyond the region, and stand as a nationwide community producing excellent scholar leaders who promotes initiatives that will uplift the community.โ With sustained passion, collaboration, and innovation, the organization is poised to expand its reach and deepen its impact.
SEI-YENTIAโs story is still unfolding, but its heartbeat is already clear. An organization made up scholars who are not only recipients of opportunity, but also givers of hope. In uniting scholars, uplifting applicants, and inspiring service, the organization proves that education paired with leadership and compassion
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