FOR THE second consecutive year, six young minds will be given a full four-year scholarship at the Ateneo de Manila University. The Jordan Brand formally introduced their Wings Scholars Batch of 2027 during the halftime break of today’s University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) match between the Ateneo Blue Eagles and the University of the East (UE) Red Warriors at the Mall of Asia Arena in the City of Pasay.

With the continuation of Jordan Brand’s scholarship program, a new batch of Ateneans, namely Akbar Semaj Comedoy (1 AB DipIR), Jeff Kent Daragay (1 BS CH-MSE), Andrew Dumangas (1 BS BIO), Princess May Giron (1 BS CS-DGDD), Dave Predigua (1 BS CS), and Rae Mikella Tolentino (1 BS PSY), will be able to pursue their course of choice with a full-ride scholarship throughout their tenure at the Ateneo.

“I am excited to see my upcoming journey, now that I belong to the Jordan Wings Family. We were all surprised and I would like to thank my family and all the people who made this possible,” Dumangas shared.

Additionally, in partnership with the children’s rights organization Bahay Tuluyan, each Wings Scholar will also receive skills training, career guidance, and mentorship throughout their four-year journey at the University.

Craig Williams, president of the Jordan Brand, noted the importance of showing up for basketball culture during the initial launch of the initiative. “When you think about the community in Manila, who shows so much love for the game, it only makes sense that we would bring Jordan Wings to them—to extend this spirit of excellence,” Williams added.

According to a press release by the brand, the Wings Scholars program was launched in the United States, China, and France. The Philippines is the first Southeast Asian country to join the global initiative which has funded more than 2,886 students since 2015.