The Chia Family Foundation, represented by siblings Benito L. Chia and Luisa L. Sia-Casey, established an endowment for scholarships in Engineering, Science and Mathematics, and Education major in Science and Mathematics.  They also named three smart classrooms during a simple ceremony held today, February 8, 2023, at the School of Engineering in Talamban Campus.

Both Benito and Luisa recalled fond memories of their school days. Luisa exudes praise for former Engineering Dean Pedro Yap, who taught her calculus. She considered him as her best mathematics professor at USC. Benito is also emphatic in the need for good students and excellent teachers, which became the driving force behind the endowment for scholarships and future faculty awards.

Recognizing the need for improved facilities, two classrooms are dedicated to their parents, Chia Chian  林連炮 (read: Lim Dian Pao) and  Araceli Limonco 吳西里(read: Go Cely). To honor Dean Pedro Yap for excellence in teaching, one smart classroom was named after him.

Aside from these gifts, the Chia Family Foundation will also purchase licenses for Design-Expert, a statistical software that will enable students to effectively design their research proposals and experimental framework. Benito Chia graduated from USC magna cum laude in Mechanical Engineering, while Luisa Sia-Casey graduated summa cum laude as a Mathematics major. Two other siblings, Rita L. Chia (summa cum laude, Chemistry) and Antonio L. Chian (magna cum laude, Chemical Engineering), are also USC alumni.

Aside from University officers listed in the caption above, the signing ceremony was witnessed by Ferdinand S. Boncayao (Asst. Director, Alumni Affairs, Scholarships, Job Placement), Teresita A. Gujilde (Head, Treasury), Engr. Ricardo L. Fornis (Chair, Civil Engineering), Engr. Joseph Karl G. Salva (Chair, Electrical and Electronics Engineering), Kathrina Marie M. Borgonia (Asst. Chair, Civil Engineering), Engr. Isabelo A. Rabuya (Asst. Chair, Electrical and Electronics Engineering), Dr. Marlowe Edgar C. Burce (Asst. Dean, School of Engineering), Dr. Elizabeth M. Remedio (Asst. Director, Naming Rights, Endowment, and Scholarship), Dr. Antoniette M. Cañete (Chair, Computer Engineering), Dr. Angie M. Ceniza-Canillo (Chair, Computer, Information Sciences, and Mathematics), Dr. Lorafe F. Lozano (Chair, Industrial Engineering), and Dr. Michael E. Loretero (Chair, Mechanical Engineering). Not in the photo is Dr. Patrick John Y. Lim (Director, Research, Development, Extension, and Publications).