THUNDER BAY – 415 Confederation College students received 606 scholarships, bursaries and awards totaling $301,932 at the annual Awards Recognition Reception.
Confederation College students were recognized for their academic achievement and community involvement. In addition, the event provided an opportunity for students and the College community to thank donors for their continued support.
Vignesh Viswanathan, Student Union President, was one of many to offer his thanks to donors for their support of students. “The assistance provided by donors helps keep our students motivated and passionate about their studies,” he said. “It also inspires them to pay it forward and give back when they enter the workforce. Thank you to our donors for creating this opportunity for our students to grow.”
One student on a journey of growth is Gaurav Ganjoo of the Dental Hygiene program. He noted that the financial support from the awards program helps him cover the costs of rent, food, and textbooks, allowing him to focus on his studies. “The support from donors motivates me personally, and in fact all student recipients, to do better academically,” he said. “It makes me feel more valued as a student because donors are recognizing the efforts I’ve put into my studies throughout the year. As an international student, the amount of hours I can work is limited so the awards are a big help. As a graduating student, the financial support will also help me in my transition from school to career.” Ganjoo was awarded the Dr. Charles M. Johnston Memorial Award, the Daniel Henry Coghlan Memorial Award, the Raag-Rung Music Circle Bursary for International Students and the StudyInsured Award.
Kathleen Lynch, President of Confederation College, shared her words of thanks on behalf of the College. “Through these scholarships, bursaries, and awards, our students are empowered to focus on their studies and achieve their dreams. This event provides an important opportunity for our donors to see the students they are supporting, reinforcing the value of their contributions. The generosity of our donors is truly touching and we are grateful for their continued investment in providing access to education for our learners.”
One of those generous donors is LH North General Contractors, an organization that established an award presented annually to a student entering the Civil Engineering program and demonstrating financial need. “LH North sees the value of investing in the students of Confederation College, especially those going into the civil engineering program,” said Tom McClement, President of LH North. “We proudly employ numerous alumni from the program, with several of them rising through the ranks of our organization. They are an incredible resource for our company and our award is a way for us to pay that forward by supporting students, and hopefully future employees, in their pursuit of a career in civil engineering.”
Strong financial support and community relationships are paramount to the success of the scholarship, bursary, and awards program at Confederation College. The generous contributions from donors help to ensure that students who require financial assistance can put their dreams to work and get the support they need.
Adding this year’s amounts to those of the past 10 years, with the help of these donors, Confederation College has been able to deliver awards to over 3,400 students, totaling more than $2.05 million.
