18 young people from 11 municipalities in Antioquia became the first cohort of Generación A, the professional scholarship program of Fundación Grupo Argos and the universities EIA, EAFIT, and CES

• Generación A was born as a legacy on the 90th anniversary of Grupo Argos with the purpose of strengthening education in Colombia. In total, more than 205 applications were received from 29 municipalities in Antioquia.
• Of the 18 selected young people, 10 are women, and four of them chose university careers with historically mostly male participation, such as Physics Engineering, Interactive Design, Biomedical Engineering, among others.
• More than half of the scholarship recipients leaned toward STEAM areas (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), which represents a milestone in the preparation of future professionals and their ability to respond to global challenges.
• The selected young people come from the municipalities of Abejorral, Andes, Bello, Copacabana, Itagüí, Jericó, La Estrella, Marinilla, Medellín, Rionegro, and San Francisco.
• Generación A operates with the endowment model, a figure that, based on the donation of a capital that generates an annual return, allows the granting of educational scholarships in perpetuity with a defined number of spots with the participating universities.

With the purpose of creating opportunities for young people, Grupo Argos Foundation and the universities EIA, EAFIT, and CES awarded 18 new higher education scholarships to high school graduates from 11 municipalities in Antioquia with the best academic records. The selected students will form the first cohort of Generación A, the higher education fund launched in November 2024 to commemorate Grupo Argos’ 90th anniversary with a legacy for education in the country.

“Fulfilling my dream of studying at EAFIT thanks to the joint support of Fundación Grupo Argos and the university is an opportunity as wonderful as it is hard to believe. Being part of the first cohort of Generación A scholarship recipients not only fills me with pride for all of us who make up such a select group, but also with gratitude for these institutions that believe in the unparalleled power of education and, through their cooperation, will continue enabling the academic and personal development of many young people who will transform society.”

Jimena Ospina
Scholarship Recipient

More than half of the scholarship recipients chose undergraduate programs in STEAM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), and out of 18 spots, 10 were awarded to women. Among them, four opted for university degrees that have historically had a predominantly male enrollment, such as Physics Engineering, Interactive Design, and Biomedical Engineering, among others. This choice represents a crucial step in preparing students to face global challenges, allowing the country to continue strengthening its competitiveness in the global economy.

“Starting my studies is always an exciting and uplifting moment in the life of any dedicated student. I see it as one of the most crucial and significant milestones in university life and in any learning journey.
Being part of Generación A is both a privilege and a joy. I feel highly motivated and supported by exceptional individuals whom I trust and rely on. They help me find my path and shape my future.”

David Delgado
Scholarship Recipient

The selected young scholars come from the municipalities of Abejorral, Andes, Bello, Copacabana, Itagüí, Jericó, La Estrella, Marinilla, Medellín, Rionegro, and San Francisco. For the selection process, the team from Fundación Grupo Argos and the participating universities considered factors such as academic performance, socioeconomic status, territorial diversity, and chosen fields of study. In total, more than 200 applications were received from 29 municipalities in Antioquia.

Distribution of the undergraduate programs chosen by the students and their municipalities of origin

About Generación A

Generación A is a higher education scholarship initiative aimed at connecting high school graduates from Antioquia with higher education programs at three of the top-performing universities in the country: EIA, EAFIT, and CES. To ensure its long-term sustainability, Fundación Grupo Argos and the universities established a fund under the endowment model. This mechanism allows for the perpetual financing of a set number of scholarships by investing an initial capital contribution that generates annual returns. In its first phase, Generación A secured an investment of COP 40 billion: COP 20 billion provided by Fundación Grupo Argos and COP 20 billion contributed by the three private universities, in the form of institutional capacity and talent, under the “empty seats” model.