Scholarship Committee Annual Report 2017-2018
Our Scholarship Program is having a very significant, positive impact on the seven young adults who have been awarded scholarships since the program started in 2012. The recipients are involved in human resources, labour law, education, computer science, neuroscience, business and medical technology.
The scholarship, of up to $10,000 a year for four years, is open to outstanding students graduating from a TDSB or TCDSB secondary school who will be attending a College or University in the Greater Toronto Area.
The winners had to demonstrate financial need, academic excellence, leadership, school involvement and community service. This scholarship program has made university education possible for impressive young people who might not otherwise have been able to continue their studies due to financial circumstances.
In addition to the financial support, one member of the Scholarship Committee takes on a very important and gratifying mentorship role with each student throughout their undergraduate years. This is invaluable for the student who is making the often difficult transition to post-secondary education, perhaps without appropriate role models. With the mentor’s support, these students become ambassadors for Rotary and volunteer at Club events such as our annual Children’s Christmas Party and the recent RI 2018 Convention.
This past year the Committee reviewed and made changes to the student Application and other scholarship documents. It also provided content for this June’s Making a Difference publication which featured our scholarship program.
We appreciate our contacts at the TDSB and TCDSB who distributed the applications this past February to students through their network of school guidance counsellors. The Committee reviewed the applications received and interviewed a short list of students. The selected winner this year was Maryam Ali who will be studying Biomedical Engineering at Ryerson University. Maryam will be introduced to the Club at our Scholarship Luncheon on September 14, 2018. Her Committee mentor is Mary Bennett.
My thanks to the members of the Committee – Barbara Thomson, Charles Dillingham, Mary Bennett, Richard White, Rotaractor Sarah Hui and our Liaison Director, John Joseph Mastandrea – for their work and commitment to current and future scholarship recipients.
Don Brooks, Chair