Scholarship

Hundreds of University of Toronto community members recently gathered at a virtual event to honour first-entry undergraduate students who received scholarships.

More than 2,200 admission awards totaling $29.9 million were distributed to students entering their first year at one of �Թϱ��’s three campuses this fall. The university boosted the amount it awards first-entry undergraduate students – both domestic and international – by $6.9 million this year over last.

Over four years, the award payments to the new students will total $69.9 million.

At the virtual event, �Թϱ�� President Meric Gertler welcomed �Թϱ��’s newest generation of scholars to campus and wished them well on their academic journey.

“Our goal is to see you develop your knowledge in one or more fields of study while also honing a set of core competencies that will serve you well throughout your working lives: the ability to think critically, to solve problems creatively, to communicate effectively and to work well with others particularly within socially diverse teams,” he said.

“In a world of technological disruption and change, it is these very qualities that will make you resilient and enable you to succeed and thrive.”

The event, which saw more than 800 student scholarship recipients RSVP, was held to honour domestic and international scholarship recipients who were admitted to �Թϱ�� in 2021 across a wide range of disciplines – from the humanities and social sciences to the sciences and professions.

Following remarks from senior university leaders, students had the opportunity to chat in virtual breakout rooms that were hosted by principals and deans from across the university.

Chancellor Rose Patten said one of the greatest perks of her role is meeting bright young students.

“For me, the opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments and support your potential is more than a privilege – it’s an inspiration.”

Patten congratulated the scholars on their accomplishments and said she was confident they would be important additions to the �Թϱ�� community.

“�Թϱ�� is a crucial hub of intellectual and cultural life in the Toronto region, in Canada and indeed in our world today,” she said. “I have no doubt that you will make great contributions in your years here, in your studies and your co-curricular activities, and I know that your time at �Թϱ�� will prepare you well for a lifetime of success.”

Alexandra Gillespie, vice-president and principal of �Թϱ�� Mississauga and an expert on medieval and early modern literature, cited 14th-century poet, Geoffrey Chaucer, to describe the role of university scholars.

“Gladly wolde he lerne and gladly teche,” she said, quoting The Canterbury Tales.

“Learn and teach,” Gillespie said, translating from Middle English. “The two actions express the sense of growth and community that lies behind a �Թϱ�� scholarship like the one you have won.”

“Thank you, �Թϱ�� scholars, for joining a community as eager to acquire new knowledge as we are to share it with others.”

Wisdom Tettey, vice-president and principal of �Թϱ�� Scarborough, told the incoming group of scholars that their success despite the COVID-19 pandemic bodes well for their future and the future of society.

“We as your UTSC family will do our part to sustain that optimism. We will support you to strive to reach new goals and explore new possibilities that enrich you intellectually, and as critically minded citizens who carry with pride and live our vision of inclusive excellence,” he said.

“Staff, faculty and your peers are here for you to ensure that you flourish and that you enrich and are enriched by some of the best minds you can find anywhere in the world.”

�Թϱ�� alumna establishes bursary for Indigenous, Black and Taino students

Christopher.Sorensen — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 20:47:32 +0000

�Թϱ�� alumna establishes bursary for Indigenous, Black and Taino students

Christopher.Sorensen Mon, 04/05/2021 - 16:47

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Erica Neeganagwedgin created the Olive Moxam Indigenous Bursary to support Indigenous, Black and Taino students in OISE’s master of teaching program (Photo courtesy of Erica Neeganagwedgin)

Topic

Ontario Institute for Studies in Education

Scholarship

Erica Neeganagwedgin is looking to tell a different story than the one currently being told.

Neeganagwedgin, who earned master's and doctorate degrees from the University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), has established the Olive Moxam Indigenous Bursary – named for her mother – to support Indigenous, Black and Taino students in OISE’s master of teaching program.

An assistant professor in critical policy, equity and leadership studies at Western University, Neeganagwedgin says she met many people who supported her during her time at �Թϱ�� – particularly Black and Indigenous students and some who, like her, are of Taino heritage, which originates in the Caribbean.

“I met some Caribbean students who talked about Indigeneity and yet, with approximately 55 million Indigenous people in Latin America and the Caribbean, Caribbean Indigenous people are so invisible,” says Neeganagwedgin, who studied sociology and equity studies in education with a specialization in Indigenous Education.

“I want to highlight Caribbean Indigeneity and Taino [Indigeneity] specifically,” with this bursary, she says.

“The scholarship tells its own story about our survival and self- determination into today. That being said, there were Taino students and Indigenous students who have supported me in my learning journey at OISE – emotionally, mentally, spiritually.”

The bursary is the first of its kind at OISE.

“On behalf of the OISE community, I congratulate Professor Neeganagwedgin for establishing the Olive Moxam Indigenous bursary,” said OISE Dean Glen Jones. “The bursary, meant to support Indigenous and Black students, channels Professor Neeganagwedgin's passion for education and her deep love for the OISE community.

“We are grateful for her gift and hope it continues to motivate new students who want to make a difference in their communities.”

Sim Kapoor, OISE’s director of advancement, communications and external relations, thanked Neeganagwedgin for her support.

“Professor Neeganagwedgin’s selfless gift to our institute opens new doors for Black and Indigenous students who could not see themselves in this institution,” Kapoor says. “We are indebted to her for her gift.”

“This bursary is big step toward what we can achieve together to support students. We hope the professor’s gift inspires others to give, as well.”

Creating a bursary for Indigenous students is something Neeganagwedgin says she has wanted to implement at OISE since 2014. She says she got the idea after attending a conference in the Caribbean on Indigeneity with her mother.

“I had discussed with my mother about establishing the scholarship. She thought it was a good idea and she really supports it,” says Neeganagwedgin. “My mother is the oldest person that I'm aware of in our Taino community who openly identifies as Taino. So, I thought it would be fitting to name the scholarship in her name.”

Recipients will receive between $1,000 and $2,000 to support their education. OISE will match this bursary up to $25,000 with donations and contributions from the public.

“For me, it’s about supporting students – I had also received bursaries when I was at OISE,” Neeganagwedgin says. “And when I was at University of Toronto, there were times when, if I didn't receive those bursaries, it would have been a huge burden as a student.”

It is the people who have encouraged and supported her the most, she says, who are dear to Neeganagwedgin’s heart. “Those are the people that inform my everyday life and I think contributed in large ways to who I am.

“This is my appreciation and gratitude in honour of the support I received.”

Gaming champs apply here: �Թϱ�� alumnus funds scholarship for engineering undergrads who excel at eSports

lanthierj — Wed, 18 Jan 2017 15:59:21 +0000

Gaming champs apply here: �Թϱ�� alumnus funds scholarship for engineering undergrads who excel at eSports

lanthierj Wed, 01/18/2017 - 10:59

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“We need to reward the mavericks amongst us who may not fit into the mold of a traditional leader,” says Victor Xin (photo by Jamie Hunter)

Jamie Hunter

Author legacy

Jamie Hunter

Topic

City & Culture

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

For the first time in the University of Toronto’s history, a scholarship has been established with video gaming as part of the eligibility criteria.

�Թϱ�� alumnus Victor Xin will fund a new scholarship to support a student with high academic achievement and a passion for eSports. Short for electronic sports, eSports is the growing world of competitive video gaming.

“We should reward leadership attributes no matter how they manifest themselves,” said Xin, managing partner at Athena Capital Partners, a Toronto-based investment firm. “I want to help students who pursue leadership and personal development but go about it a different way.”

The Victor Xin Scholarship in eSports will be awarded to a full-time undergraduate student in the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering who has achieved a minimum 3.5 GPA. The recipient will demonstrate a passion for eSports or gaming through engagement in a leadership role or participation in extra-curricular clubs or activities. Course selection, design projects or research may also be considered. The first scholarship will be awarded in fall 2018.

Xin, who graduated from the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering in 2008, also volunteers as the chair of �Թϱ�� Engineering’s alumni mentorship program. He said that when he was an undergraduate student, he didn’t relate to the traditional clubs and sports the university offered.

Instead, he gravitated towards video games – initially StarCraft, now Dota 2 when he has the time – and put a lot of energy and effort into building a community for other �Թϱ�� Engineering students who were also passionate about eSports. Xin started the University of Toronto eSports Club and organized the University of Toronto Cyber Games in 2008, the first student-run eSports tournament held on a campus in North America.

“There are trailblazers on campus who are rallying a different set of students to build campus organizations focused on an alternative way of learning to lead and succeed in life,” he said. “Society may not recognize them yet – but we shouldn’t let them fall through the cracks.”

Today, eSports is a lucrative global business: the popular League of Legends game drew an audience of 36 million for its World Championship in 2015. Players earn millions in prize money at tournaments that are broadcasted by major networks such as ESPN. Global eSports revenues are estimated to exceed $1 billion by 2019.

�Թϱ�� is among a growing list of North American institutions to reward eSports players with academic scholarships.

“I hope eSports becomes even more mainstream and draws more attention,” Xin said.

“Then students who are passionate about eSports can get the recognition they deserve and the support they need to succeed.”

�Թϱ�� undergrad wins Rhodes Scholarship

ullahnor — Mon, 21 Nov 2016 17:32:01 +0000

�Թϱ�� undergrad wins Rhodes Scholarship

ullahnor Mon, 11/21/2016 - 12:32

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�Թϱ��'s latest Rhodes scholar is Stephanie Gaglione (photos courtesy of Stephanie Gaglione)

Geoffrey Vendeville

Author legacy

Geoffrey Vendeville

Topic

Global Lens

Rhodes Scholar

University of Oxford

Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering

Scholarship

Subheadline

The Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering student, who loves to rock climb and canoe, wins scholarship to Oxford

Stephanie Gaglione, who is majoring in chemical engineering at the University of Toronto, has been selected as a 2017 Rhodes Scholar, a prestigious annual scholarship to the University of Oxford.

The 22-year-old student, who is in her final year and minoring in bioengineering, was caught by surprise when she got the good news over the phone Saturday evening.

“When they called, I went into a little bit of a shock – more of a speechless response than anything – and thoughts rushed through my head about what was going to happen over the next two years,” she said.

Gaglione, who loves to rock climb, run and canoe, celebrated by going out to dinner with friends and watching the new Harry Potter movie. But not before she finished working on an engineering design project to produce a chemical compound that could be used on a mission to Mars.

She wants to use the all-expenses scholarship that covers up to three years to continue postgraduate study in engineering. She hopes one day to advance biomaterial platforms for vaccines and drug delivery as an academic.

“Stephanie embodies the competencies of a 21st-century engineer: curiosity, creativity, intellect and leadership, built upon a strong technical foundation,” said Cristina Amon, dean of the Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. “To be named a Rhodes Scholar is a remarkable recognition of her accomplishments and contributions to our Faculty, the University and our society, and I cannot wait to see her realize her potential at Oxford and beyond. My heartfelt congratulations to Stephanie on this tremendous achievement.”

Stephanie Gaglione rock climbing in Milton, Ont.

Gaglione fell in love with science early on. While she was still in high school, she wanted to work with researchers.

So, she made a list of �Թϱ�� professors and emailed them, one by one, asking about research opportunities.

“I had some kind notes from some professors and some other ones who thought I was probably a little bit crazy,” she recalled.

She ended up with a research position at the Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) with senior scientist and �Թϱ�� biochemistry professor, Khosrow Adeli.

She made a lasting impression on Adeli with her research on the ways insulin affects the amount of a protein in cholesterol. He was not surprised to hear she was awarded a scholarship to Oxford.

“I have a lot of students coming and going, but I haven’t forgotten her,” he told �Թϱ��.

“She was involved in studying the genetic code, the RNA for a protein that we’re interested in,” he said, adding that Gaglione wrote detailed research proposals on par with work by senior undergraduate and graduate students.

When she graduated from high school, Gaglione was featured in The Toronto Star for having a nearly perfect average – 99.67 percent, to be exact.

Read The Toronto Star story

Last summer, she interned at the World Health Organization headquarters in Geneva, studying challenges to vaccination and immunization programs in middle-income countries. In 2014, she worked in customer development at Procter & Gamble in Toronto.

Last year, she won a Fulbright Canada undergraduate scholarship and spent 10 months studying at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. There, her work focused on drug delivery to cells in the immune system.

At �Թϱ��, Gaglione was a student member of the Academic Board and the Committee on Academic Policy and Programs in 2014-15.

Of the 95 Rhodes Scholarships awarded to the class of 2017, 11 students are Canadian. The winners were chosen on the basis of “intellect, character, leadership and commitment to service.”

Scholarship

‘Succeed and thrive’: �Թϱ��� scholarship recipients honoured at virtual event

�Թϱ��� alumna establishes bursary for Indigenous, Black and Taino students

Gaming champs apply here: �Թϱ��� alumnus funds scholarship for engineering undergrads who excel at eSports

�Թϱ��� undergrad wins Rhodes Scholarship

Read The Toronto Star story

Read about last year's Rhodes Scholars from �Թϱ���

‘Succeed and thrive’: �Թϱ�� scholarship recipients honoured at virtual event

�Թϱ�� alumna establishes bursary for Indigenous, Black and Taino students

Gaming champs apply here: �Թϱ�� alumnus funds scholarship for engineering undergrads who excel at eSports

�Թϱ�� undergrad wins Rhodes Scholarship

Read about last year's Rhodes Scholars from �Թϱ��