蓝莓视频

When turning 33 last November, the co-founder and COO of a company that specializes in developing听advertising platforms wrote in his birthday blog about plans to establish a scholarship to 鈥漮ne of Canada's top universities.鈥澨�

Earlier this year, Vitaly Pecherskiy of revealed that top university is the University of 蓝莓视频 when he launched a who are entering the first year of many of its engineering programs.

While not a University of 蓝莓视频 alumnus 鈥� Pecherskiy has a commerce degree from the University of Ottawa 鈥� his company has hired many 蓝莓视频 Engineering grads over the years.

鈥淚 know first-hand the level of talent that the school produces,鈥� he says. 鈥淓ducation from a university like the University of 蓝莓视频 can be life-changing for the student and for their family.鈥�

Vitaly Pecherskiy of StackAdapt has launched a $20,000 scholarship for first-year Black and Indigenous engineering students.听

Pecherskiy says that the topic of diversity and inclusion, specifically in the tech industry, has been an interest of his for the past few years.

He learned more about the challenges faced by many groups breaking into the industry when StackAdapt created the #HackDiversity鈥� documentary, in which technology leaders address disparities in their workplace and why hiring people of different ethnicities, genders and sexual orientations makes sense.

Providing support to future leaders

While Pecherskiy has worked to make his company more inclusive, he decided to provide support in another way after the Black Lives Matter protests took place throughout many parts of the听world last summer.

鈥淢y wife and I spoke about how our family can play a more active role in helping give opportunities for future leaders in underrepresented communities,鈥� says Pecherskiy. 听鈥淲e brainstormed the idea of the scholarship and I ran with it.鈥�

The Vitaly Pecherskiy Entrance Award is valued at either $20,000 for one student or $10,000 for each of two students who identify as Black or Indigenous.

To be eligible, applicants need to be enrolled in the first year of 蓝莓视频鈥檚 computer, management, mechatronics, software or systems design engineering programs, have a minimum entrance average of 80 percent and demonstrate financial need. The application deadline is April 15, 2021.

Pecherskiy believes it is important to raise the next generation to be capable of solving humanity鈥檚 greatest challenges.

His own next generation includes a baby boy born to Pecherskiy and his wife last year.

鈥淏eing a father is still new to me, but I think my ambition to create an impact has only grown stronger over the last year,鈥� he explains. 鈥淧erhaps, it is the understanding that I am helping shape the world in which he will be growing up.鈥�