As a step to bridge students’ academic needs, the Senior Class Organization (SCO) of Batch 2025 officially launched its legacy project, “Laptop Mo, Kinabukasan Ko,” through a turnover ceremony held at the Office of the University President (OUP) on Thursday, May 7.

The project aims to bridge the digital divide among students by providing technological alternatives, particularly for those with limited financial means.

In an interview, Dawn Oquiño, SCO President of Batch Luminara, shared that the initiative would help students who face difficulties accessing technology for their academic requirements.

“We, the SCO, believe that this project will transform the lives of many students, especially those currently struggling under the weight of financial hardship. Our goal is to make sure that this isn’t just a project, but a helping hand. After all, true success in modern education is only possible when every student holds the keys to the resources they need,” Oquiño explained.

She also expressed hope that the project would continue transforming the lives of students facing financial challenges.

Moreover, the laptops are provided strictly for academic purposes only, including classroom reporting and presentations, academic research and thesis writing, and encoding requirements for school-related projects.

To ensure a seamless borrowing process, students must set an appointment at the Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO) at least one business day before the intended date of use, together with the borrower’s slip and school or valid ID.

The laptops may only be used within the campus premises with units can be claimed at 8:00 AM and must be returned by 5:00 PM on the same day.

To prevent breaches in data security, files and data must be transferred only through email or cloud storage and will be permanently deleted at the end of each day.

Meanwhile, Chai Jeng R. Turalde, a first-year Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) student, shared in an interview how the project would benefit students like her who do not own personal laptops.

“As an Electrical Engineering student, having a laptop is especially important because many of our tasks require specialized software. For example, we need laptops to design floor plans with electrical layouts, simulate circuits, and prepare technical drawings,” Turalde shared.

She added that the project would greatly help students keep up with academic demands and lessen the stress of finding ways to access technology.

The turnover ceremony was attended by University President Dr. Dennis C. de Paz, Director of the Student Affairs and Services Office (SASO) Dr. Sonia T. Enrile, and Head of the Student Affairs Office (SAO) Dr. Eliditha Easter H. Gervacio.

Article by Carl Dotingco