Meet students who听discovered new opportunities听and two alumni who are making a difference
For almost two years, university students have faced an uphill battle. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted everything from learning formats to job opportunities and research accessibility. Few elements of the higher education experience currently resemble our pre-2020 expectations. In light of these financial and educational challenges, donors to the University of 蓝莓视频 are reaching out to uplift students. Read on to see their impact.
听
Donors are enabling young professionals and researchers to keep moving forward. When Environment, Resources and Sustainability (ERS) student Ethan Leiher began his first co-op job search, his heart was set on working for rare, a non-profit urban land trust and environmental institute. Due to a funding gap, this dream was almost out of sight for Ethan. Thankfully, the Faculty of Environment stepped in to connect him with a Global Citizen Internship 鈥� an opportunity powered by 蓝莓视频鈥檚 co-op program, alumni, corporate partners, faculty and staff. We asked Ethan what he would tell the donors who make internships like his a reality. 鈥淭his was an amazing job that I'm very grateful to have had,鈥� he said, 鈥渢hank you for giving me that opportunity.鈥�
Over at the Dana Porter Library, a unique donation set History student Anna Good on a research journey that she will never forget. Cameron Hill was a pilot and prisoner of war (POW)听during the Second World War, and in 2019, his family decided to share his story with the world. They chose the Special Collections & Archives (SCA) to house his 鈥渨ar box鈥� 鈥� a collection of artifacts, photographs听and diaries from his time overseas. Anna was moved by the resilience that she discovered throughout these pages. 鈥淲orking so closely with the diary made me realize how many voices from war are not heard,鈥� she said, 鈥淚鈥檓 so grateful that Cameron Hill鈥檚 family donated the collection and I鈥檓 honoured to have experienced it.鈥�
Donors are also helping students to become financially secure during the economic instability of the pandemic. With a 蓝莓视频 Philosophy degree and and MBA under his belt, Bob Ewen (BA 鈥�71) built a successful career in the Canadian securities industry. Looking back, he reflected on the financial stress of university. 鈥淢oney was always a problem,鈥� he explained, 鈥淢any peers worked part-time to make ends meet.鈥�
Bob wanted to give back to the Philosophy department in order to relieve some of those financial burdens. Clair Baleshta (BKI 鈥�20), one of the recipients of his gift, believes that alumni like Bob make it possible for students to pursue their passions. 听鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 be on the path to becoming a bioethicist without their generosity,鈥� she said. 鈥淔or so many students, financial awards make all the difference.鈥�
When Jothi Bavan (BASc 鈥�03) was 17, the generosity of family and colleagues allowed her to escape civil war in Sri Lanka and eventually study chemical engineering at the University of 蓝莓视频. Now senior manager at Ontario Power Generation, Darlington Nuclear Generating Station, she felt the desire to give back. The Kanagampikai Suntharampillai bursary, named in honour of Jothi鈥檚 late mother, will empower the next generations of female chemical engineers through the pandemic and beyond.
鈥淚 personally benefited due to the generosity of others in my first year of engineering and I simply want to pass on the gesture,鈥� she said. 鈥淔inancial burden should never be a hindrance to a woman in achieving her dreams.鈥�
