More than a Grant: The Heart of Service in Adamson’s Ozanam Scholarship
Date Posted: May 6, 2025 at 02:34 PM
The Ozanam Study Grant Program (OSGP) stands as Adamson University’s largest scholarship initiative, an enduring testament to its Vincentian mission of compassion and service. Designed for financially challenged yet deserving students, the program offers not only 100% free tuition and monthly stipends but also a deeper invitation to become active participants in the life of the university and beyond.
Scholars under OSGP serve as student assistants, or SAs, rendering hours of support across various offices, laboratories, and university facilities. Their role, however, extends far beyond administrative or academic duties.
At the core of the program is a fundamental component -- apostolate work. Grantees are called to engage in community-oriented initiatives such as feeding programs, educational outreach, and environmental campaigns, embodying the Vincentian call to serve those most in need.
“Ang Ozanam Study Grant Program, they have this part of their requirement, apostolate, which we consider na doon nagkakaroon ng values yung charity na itinuro ni St. Vincent de Paul,” shared Mr. Teodoro Dangarang Jr., Coordinator of the Office for Student Assistance and Scholarships. “I think with that, nakikita ng mga bata -- ng mga scholars natin -- ‘yung value ng Vincentian values, and doon natin nakikita na masarap matulungan, pero syempre, masarap din magbigay.”
The act of giving, when experienced by those who have once been recipients themselves, holds transformative power. For many Adamsonian scholars, the program does not only ease financial hardship—it nurtures personal growth. Community work fosters reflection and a deepened sense of accountability, helping students understand that scholarship is not simply a reward, but a responsibility.
“We conduct different approaches towards our society, and through the process, we develop compassion towards it,” shared Althea Louis Fiel, an OSGP grantee. Her words reflect the gradual yet profound shift that many scholars undergo -- seeing service not as an obligation, but as a vocation.
AdU views scholarships as structured pathways for students to realize both academic excellence and moral depth. Each grantee is chosen with the expectation that they will not only succeed in their chosen fields, but also become individuals who serve with integrity and conscience.
“I am deeply committed to my education and my chosen career path, and I believe this scholarship will be a significant step towards achieving my goals,” said OSGP scholar Marlon Cristobal. “These events [outreach programs], for example, have encouraged me to reflect on my own values and how I can integrate them into my daily life.”
The scholarship experience at AdU is intentionally holistic as it supports the mind and the heart. Grantees are guided to see that the aid they receive is also a call to action -- a charge to pay forward the generosity, support and belief placed in them. It is this perspective that sets the University’s approach apart.
“Maipapakita natin na hindi natatapos ‘yung tulong dapat lang sa'yo,” Mr. Dangarang emphasized. “Kapag ikaw meron ka na rin, responsibilidad na natin na magbigay ng tulong sa ibang tao, lalo na sa mga nangangailangan, at yun yung kailangan natin ma-embody sa iba't ibang estudyante, hindi lang actually si scholars natin.”
Adamson University’s scholarship programs are instruments for educational access, however, they are also expressions of faith in every student’s capacity to grow, to give and to lead lives of meaningful impact.
In a world where education often remains a privilege, OSGP and other scholarship initiatives serve as concrete affirmations of the University’s enduring commitment to inclusion, service and the transformative power of a Vincentian education.
Here, students are not only taught to dream, they are taught to give those dreams purpose. ACM
