At least 23 American colleges and universities have extended invitation to Cebu students to pursue higher education in the United States of America as the US Embassy organized the 4th Education USA University Fair held in Cebu City last 12 October.

Pauline Anderson, officer for deputy of public engagement, said that the fair aims to help match the interest of Cebuano students with the education available in the United States.

"To the students here, you completed the first steps to a quality US education today by coming here to seek answers to your questions, to meet with university representatives, and to assure your parents that you will be okay getting on that plane to pursue your studies. I know you have a bright future ahead of you," Anderson said.

She also cited that around 3,000 Filipinos annually go to the USA for educational purposes as some schools and universities offered full scholarships to prospective students.

The embassy's strategic goal is to boost the number by bringing US educational institutions closer to the community in Cebu, making world-class education more accessible to local students.

Christian DiGregorio, director of international recruitment at York College of Pennsylvania, said they recently provided a full tuition scholarship for a Cebuano student for the Psychology program.

"Though it was quite an application process, but she was so bright and deserving she got the award and was able to come in August and started her classes," said DiGregorio, adding that the scholarships are funded from donations provided by their school alumni and other sponsors.

Aside from Cebuano students, there were also beneficiaries from Pasig City and Laguna who got to enjoy the scholarship.

Meantime, Anderson said the 4th Education USA University Fair serves as a testament to the American Embassy's unwavering commitment to fostering educational diversity and global inclusivity by providing a pivotal platform for students and institutions to interact.

The following American colleges and universities present in Cebu were Arizona State University (Kaplan International Pathways USA); California State University-San Bernardino; Cascadia College; Clark College; College of Southern Nevada; Green River Community; Kent State University; Lewis University; Merrimack College; Moraine Valley Community College; New York Institute of Technology; Riverside City College; Savannah College of Art and Design; SUNY at Albany; SUNY College of Plattsburgh; The University of Tennessee-Chattanooga; Troy University; University of Colorado at Boulder; University of Hawaii at Manoa; University of San Francisco; University of Utah Asia Campus; Valencia College; Xavier University; Yale University (School of Environment); and York College of Pennsylvania.