Thanks to the generosity of our donors and the Province of Manitoba, The University of Winnipeg provided a significant amount of financial support to students this past academic year.
This award will help in off-setting some of the expenses of going to school which helps in alleviating our financial stresses, allowing me to better focus on my education.
William Henry
Through the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative, which matches government funding to private donations to student award programs, UWinnipeg distributed $8 million to students through awards, scholarships, and bursaries.
“We knew the 2020-21 academic year would be difficult as students and institutions had to pivot and adapt to the challenges of COVID-19,” said Wayne Ewasko, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Immigration. “Students are our future and the Manitoba government took steps by committing an additional $5 million to the awards initiative, on top of the $10 million announced in Budget 2020.”
Lending a helping hand to dedicated students, especially during these uncertain times, has been incredibly important. UWinnipeg recently held the virtual Awards Night of Excellence and it was evident how important these awards are to students as they pursue their academic dreams.
Making academic dreams a reality
Receiving the Scotiabank Opportunity Bursary was a huge relief for Shay-Lynn Walker. The financial support will enable her to focus more on her studies and less on her financial situation.
“As a single mother and full-time student, receiving this award means I can also continue to strive towards educational success without having to worry about the expenses and missing out on other educational gains.”
Hayley Ambrose-Chateauneuf’s goal during her studies was to achieve her Bachelor of Science degree without racking up student loans. The University of Winnipeg Retirees Association Bursary helped her finish her last term with financial ease after not being able to work this past summer due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“At the start of the school year, I was very worried about what I would do if I didn’t have enough money for my winter term at UWinnipeg, and this bursary put me in a position to complete my degree and enter the workforce. Getting these bursaries makes me feel like I have a family member out there somewhere that’s helping me succeed with my post-secondary education.”
As a father of three children, one of which is four months old, William Henry was relieved to receive the Eli and Betty Gallant Memorial Bursary. While it validated his hard work, it also reduced the strain felt by being a parent and full-time student.
“My family is low income and with my partner on maternity leave, we are financially very strained. This award will help in off-setting some of the expenses of going to school which helps in alleviating our financial stresses, allowing me to better focus on my education.”
Ken Rosenberg graduated from both the Collegiate and UWinnipeg during the mid 1970s. He has lived in Toronto for decades, but Winnipeg will always be a place he calls home.
As part of the Manitoba Scholarship and Bursary Initiative this spring, he made a generous donation to help financially support UWinnipeg students.
“So many before me, whom I will never know, have built and nurtured The University of Winnipeg and Collegiate,” he said. “Donating is a small, but important way for me to give back and pay my thank you forward.”
He continued: “This spring’s campaign to raise money to provide immediate financial assistance to UWinnipeg students was a beacon for me in these troubled COVID times. It was an obvious and immediate way I might make a small difference and help students to stay on track with their education and plans for the future.”
For more information about UWinnipeg’s fundraising priorities and how you can support students, visit: www.uwinnipeg.ca/foundation.
