Students from Nacimiento, Negrete, and Curanilahue Take a New Step Toward Their Goals Thanks to CMPC Scholarships

In Chile, high school dropout rates remain a challenge, especially in rural areas where economic factors and limited access hinder educational continuity. Having concrete support can make the difference between dropping out or completing one's studies.

In this regard, CMPC's Rural Scholarship program continues to transform realities. Launched in the year 2000 with just 52 students, it now benefits 253 high school students living in rural areas near the company's forest properties, spanning 46 municipalities in the regions of Maule, Ñuble, Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Ríos, Los Lagos, and Aysén.

More than just a financial contribution, this scholarship represents a concrete tool for students and their families to cover secondary expenses associated with education, such as transportation, school supplies, and food. In many cases, these costs are decisive in whether a student continues—or not—their studies. The scholarship supports the student from the first year of high school and can be maintained until graduation, becoming a continuous and significant support throughout their school career.

This year, the regions of Araucanía, with 140 beneficiaries; Biobío, with 86; Maule, with 10; and Ñuble, with 9, stand out for the number of beneficiaries, followed by Aysén and Los Lagos, both with 3 scholarships, as well as Los Ríos, with 2, confirming the reach of an initiative that adapts to the territory and its needs.

Indeed, this Friday, one of the 2026 launches of the initiative took place at the Campus Nacimiento CMPC-Duoc UC, corresponding to beneficiaries from Negrete, Curanilahue, and Nacimiento.

Cristóbal Puchilen, a student at Liceo Coeducacional Santa María de Los Ángeles and a resident of Negrete, highlighted the impact this scholarship has on his life and his ability to continue studying. "For me, it means a great opportunity to continue with my studies, because I have to commute by bus every day, and this help covers important expenses like bus fares, supplies, or even clothing. Today, money is a major limitation for many young people, so this scholarship significantly changes my future and gives me the chance to keep studying. Also, I feel that my family is proud of all the effort and dedication I have put in to get here," he stated.

For her part, Lorena Baeza, mother of Cristóbal Pichilén, valued the impact this support has for rural families: "I feel very happy and grateful for this opportunity they have given my son. This is also the result of his effort, motivation, and discipline over many years. For our family, it means the possibility for him to keep growing and achieve his dreams. Additionally, it is a significant economic relief, because this contribution can help with transportation, materials, or any need he has to finish high school and then continue on to university, which is his big dream."

Furthermore, since 2024, the program has added a new benefit: an online, asynchronous pre-university course, designed especially for fourth-year high school students who dream of entering higher education. In 2025, 61 young people accessed this tool, reaffirming the program's comprehensive approach: not only to accompany but also to open new paths.

Cristian Cuitiño, Manager of Projects and Social Management at CMPC, highlighted the relevance of this program for families in rural areas of southern Chile: "This scholarship represents a significant investment in education for students in the regions, especially for rural youth who must study far from their homes. It is concrete support for personal effort and that of their families, and it reflects CMPC's commitment to education and the development of capacities in the territories. The best legacy we can leave is to improve conditions of access to education, and that is what we are strengthening today."

Supporting students and their families throughout their school career not only eases an economic burden but also fuels dreams, strengthens communities, and builds a fairer future from the rural territories of southern Chile.