SPC Happy Scholarship, SPC Group’s human resource development program among its other social contribution efforts, has marked its 10th anniversary. This program is a very meaningful initiative in the sense that it supports tuition fees of students that study and work part-time at SPC Group’s brand stores. Among the scholarship students, there are employees who joined SPC Group, and are pursuing their dreams. Let’s meet students who are pursuing their dreams through SPC Happy Scholarship.
The stepping stone to support dreams: SPC Happy Scholarship
Yun-jeong Kim, part-time worker at Paris Baguette, Bus terminal store, who was conferred with SPC Happy scholarship for 1st semester of 2022(center)
It was started in 2012, in accordance with the demand of the Chairman of the SPC Group, Yeong-in Heo, who said that, “The brand must support students to make their dreams come true.” Every semester, 100 students and every year, 200 students are selected to be offered 50% of their tuition fees as financial help. Scholars are selected from the subsidiary brands of SPC Group on the basis of their family’s financial condition, grades, period of service, service attitude and study plan. From this year onwards, the target group for the scholarship has been expanded to the recommendation of agencies, partner companies and welfare organizations. From the second half of year 2011, students who have ample hands-on experience are being given priority and a win -win management is being implemented for the sake of boosting the morale of part-time workers. A whole of 10% of SPC Group’s hires are part-time student workers.
Interview with Chae-young Yun, SPC Happy Volunteer Group, scholar from 2021
Chae-young Yun, SPC Group Happy Volunteer Group employee
Q. Please Introduce Yourself and the Story of How You Received the Scholarship.
Hello, I’m Chae-young Yun of SPC Group. I have been working with SPC Group for a month now.
When I used to work part-time at Paris Baguette, I came across a poster of SPC Happy Scholarship in the changing room. I liked its slogan of supporting dreams, besides I received support and encouragement from the people around me and afterwards, I applied for the scholarship.
Q. Why Did You Join SPC Group and What Are Your Duties?
As much as I wanted to receive the scholarship, in the process of application, I also dug deep into the scholarship program and SPC Happy Volunteer Group. I thought that it was pretty fascinating that SPC Happy Volunteer Group was extending a helping hand towards needy people of the society and realizing the importance of sharing. I was determined to join SPC Happy Volunteer Group, if I got the scholarship. During the interview, it was due to expression of such sincerity with enthusiasm that the interviewees liked me; hence, I was selected for the scholarship. As of now, I am learning things while cooperating in the operation and management of SPC Happy Volunteer Group, handling their SNS account, and volunteer work etc.
Chae-young Yun, experiencing various services of SPC Happy Volunteer Group
Q. What Do You Want to Achieve Through Your Work?
After personally experiencing the social contributions like differently-abled self-support, human resource development, sharing and sustainability etc., that I only used to see in photos; I realized how big a help it was to the people around us. In this manner, it’s our goal to make our employees feel the positive influence of SPC Group; not just outsiders. We hope that we come up with more diverse programs of social contribution, so that we can be acknowledged and become the object of envy of other enterprises.
Q. Do You Have Any Words for Your Seniors or Prospective Scholarship Applicants?
I hope you all know that SPC Happy Scholarship is not for making your dreams come true, but to grow them. You can use it to earn certificates of qualifications for your career, but you can also use it for travel expenses and startups; depending on what you plan to do with it, it carries endless opportunities of self-development.
Interview with Ji-hyeon Kim, Field Manager and 2012 scholar from Paris Baguette
Ji-hyeon Kim, Service Coach and Field Manager, Paris Baguette
Q. We Are Curious About How You Got the Scholarship.
Hello, I’m Ji-hyeon Kim, the field manager, currently working as a service coach in Paris Baguette’s business team. After the end of national college entrance exam, while looking for a part-time job, I was charmed by the health consciousness of Jamba Juice; soon, I started working in the main branch of Jamba Juice at Gangnam. The manager of the store saw how hardworking I was, and on her recommendation, I applied for SPC Happy Scholarship and received it in 2012.
Q. What Kind of Change Did SPC Happy Scholarship Bring in You?
I was able to take up challenges in the direction of my dreams because of my experience at Jamba Juice and SPC Happy Scholarship. My worries about tuition fees were alleviated; moreover, tending to diverse customers inculcated a hospitality spirit in me and I could shake off my fear of foreign languages. The scholarship can be used for travels and exhibitions, on the basis of which you can learn about the things you like. No matter where I go, I see beyond the point of simply enjoying things and contemplate in depth; therefore, thinking about the things that can be improved, which made me feel that service sector was the right career for me.
FM and Store manager Ji-hyeon Kim
Q. Any Memorable Episodes as a Service Coach?
Service coach along with supervisor make one team, and manage promotional contents for their respective stores, along with product display, service education, open store support etc. We are helping the store-owners by educating them about service, and on displaying products that are in line within the commercial sphere and nature of the franchise. As far as I remember, I was also selected as the best store manager by PRM team. I suggested that we introduce decaf coffee stickers instead of filling in information, while delivering coffee to customers in order to make it more distinguishable; knowing that I worry a lot about the store, the store manager readily accepted the idea, and it was welcomed by customers as well making it successful.
Q. Anything You Want to Convey or Any Future Plans That You Have?
My goal is to get a license as CS Leader manager, and help store owners in preparation of service system’s basics for business advancement. I wish to be remembered as a service coach that works hard and puts in a lot of thought for the store by the store owners. At last, I want to say to all the students applying for SPC Happy Scholarship is, if you apply for the scholarship without any fear, you can become the hero of the opportunity.
SPC Happy Scholarship scholars following their dreams
Scholars pursuing their dreams
Ever since the commencement of the scholarship in 2012, 2,028 students have benefited through a support of worth 26 million dollars in the last 10 years. Through the SPC Happy Scholarship, the students accumulate various activities and experiences to determine their career.
Jin-Yeo Heo, a scholarship student who currently works as a nutrition teacher after receiving the SPC Happy Scholarship in February 2016, said, “As I received the scholarship, I learned that my mind could grow through the process.” She added, “I experienced that the challenge itself gives me a sense of accomplishment, and confidence that I can do something.”
Eun-ji Moon, who received the scholarship during the 2nd semester of 2020 and is working in marketing sector said, “I improved my language skills through the scholarship and also obtained certificates etc. so, SPC Happy Scholarship made a positive influence in my life.” She further added, “The relationships and experiences I gained while attending Baskin Robbins for 6 years seem to have made this process possible. I hope that SPC partners will also achieve good opportunities and achieve what they want to do.”
SPC Happy Scholarship, which was started to help the part-time worker students working in different brands of SCP Group, has marked its 10th anniversary and is still helping students to find and realize their dreams. Please look forward to SPC Happy Scholarship, a stepping stone for students to grow their small dreams into something big.
