Masahide Takano, director of Sumitomo Corporation Viet Nams HCM City branch (centre) at the scholarship granting ceremony. — VNS Photo

HCM CITY (Biz Hub) — The Japan-based Sumitomo Corporation has granted scholarships to 40 top students from HCM City Colleges.

The scholarships of US$300 (VNĐ6.3 million) each are for the 2014-2015 academic year. The recipients are from the universities of Economics, Technology, Science, and Social Sciences & Humanities.

"My mother cried when I called to say that I had been selected for the Sumitomo scholarship," said Le Thanh Vinh, a third-year student at the University of Technology. He said the award was a "source of power" that would encourage him to move forward despite obstacles in his life.

Launched in 1996, nearly 990 students with high scholastic achievements from financially disadvantaged families from HCM City have received scholarships totalling nearly US$200,000. Some students have received scholarships in consecutive years.

"We're happy to see students receiving continuing scholarships. We expect you to study harder and train better to prepare for a bright future for you, your family and your country," said Masahide Takano, director of Sumitomo Corporation Viet Nam's HCM City branch.

Saigon Co.op scholarships

Nguyen Thi Hanh, Saigon Co.op general director, hands out scholarships to poor students with outstanding academic results. - VNS file photo.

Saigon Co.op, which owns the Co.opMart supermarket chain, on November 22 awarded scholarships worth nearly VND500 million (US$23,400) to 97 poor university students across the country.

In the last six years more than 500 poor students in 38 cities and provinces have benefited from the scholarship programme, Nguyen Thi Hanh, Saigon Co.op general director, said.

Besides the scholarship the retailer also offers students part-time work at its outlets and training to enable them to become future managers of the chain.

On the same day Saigon Co.op also presented 127 children of employees scholarships worth VND283 million ($13,264). —VNS