Inés Cancela, Candela Duberto, and Gonzalo Busmail are three young students who, thanks to scholarships granted by the YPF Foundation, are now able to dream big about their professional futures—to become the next generation of leaders in Argentina’s energy sector. Today, they share with great enthusiasm how the scholarship has shaped their reality, influenced their professional development, and what goals they aspire to achieve after graduation.
Candela Duberto is in the final stretch of her studies and will soon proudly receive her degree as an Energy Engineer from UNSAM (National University of San Martín). Meanwhile, Inés Cancela is preparing to take her last exam later this year, after which she will graduate as an Electromechanical Engineer from UNLP (National University of La Plata). Gonzalo Busmail has already celebrated his achievement—he recently graduated as a Chemical Engineer from UTN (National Technological University, Tierra del Fuego). Though the three recipients pursued different fields, they all embarked on the professional paths of their dreams—thanks to the educational scholarship awarded by the YPF Foundation.
Stories of Opportunity and Determination
Inés recalls that she earned her scholarship in 2020, at the height of the pandemic. She found out about it almost by chance:
“A friend who was also studying something related to the energy sector kept insisting I should apply. They knew I had excellent grades in high school, so I had nothing to lose. I filled out the form literally at the last minute of the deadline. I had zero expectations of being selected—but, against all odds, I was chosen.”
For Gonzalo, it all began just as unexpectedly:
“I saw a flyer about the scholarship on the bulletin board at my university. It caught my eye, and even though I didn’t know much about it, I jotted down the details. When I got home, I researched it further and applied. The end result? Here I am.”
Candela, on the other hand, discovered the YPF scholarship through social media. UNSAM did an excellent job publicizing the opportunity.
“It wasn’t something that happened overnight. The selection process was rigorous, but it never felt overwhelming, even though we were in the middle of the pandemic. They asked for additional academic information, such as my level of English and extracurricular activities. Being selected was an enormous joy—a recognition of all the effort I had put in during high school.”
Soft Skills, Mentorship, and a Strong Sense of Purpose
When asked what an Electromechanical Engineer or an Energy Engineer actually does, these young scholars offered answers that were both enthusiastic and highly technical.
“The Energy Engineering degree has two main branches—electrical and petroleum,” Candela explained. “We study everything from upstream to downstream, and we also receive extensive training in renewable energies. The curriculum is very broad and offers a wide range of career opportunities.”
She is currently finishing her thesis, the final step before earning her long-awaited degree, and she is particularly happy about working on it alongside a YPF professional, who also serves as her mentor within the scholarship program.
Inés summarized her experience with the scholarship with a smile:
“Electromechanical Engineering doesn’t include electronics as a subject in its curriculum, so my goal now is to specialize in nuclear energy. But it’s not all about hard or technical knowledge. What I value most from the YPF scholarship is its human dimension. They place a lot of emphasis on soft skills. For instance, we participate in programs called ideathons, where we receive training in the humanities and leadership—key elements for being a well-rounded professional today.”
Gonzalo reflected on the same point:
“Having a mentor at the final stage of your studies—someone already working in the industry—gives you the confidence and guidance you need to make smart career choices and take off. It makes you realize that your professional dreams aren’t that far away, even if you’re still finishing university.”
He concluded with conviction:
“Nothing ventured, nothing gained. This is a real opportunity to connect with science, industry, and the professional world.”
Through these stories, the YPF Foundation reaffirms its mission: to invest in education, cultivate human talent, and strengthen the next generation of professionals who will lead Argentina’s energy transformation.
