On June 16, The Co-op Housing Federation of Toronto (CHFT) helped make post-secondary dreams come true for 30 university- or college-bound members.
The annual CHFT Diversity Scholarships were awarded to students in front of friends and family in a gala presentation at the Saint Lawrence Centre for the Arts. As CHFT Executive Director Tom Clement says, “It becomes very emotional for people.”
The scholarship, now in its 12th year, awards $1,500 over four years to students enrolled in post-secondary education. In their second, third, and fourth year, the scholarship is matched by the college or university, bringing the total scholarship amount up to $9,000. However, instead of being based on academic or athletic achievement, this scholarship is judged on community involvement.
To qualify, recipients must be a member of a Toronto co-op, and they must demonstrate a commitment to diversity. As Clement explains, “We’re promoting the idea that people be involved in a variety of community projects, and in Toronto, many of those things promote diversity. If a student volunteers with a faith group, or an a Black History month, or with a retirement home, those things promote diversity. People take on surprising activities,” Clement says. In addition to the scholarship, winners also receive credit counseling to help reduce what Clement calls the “crash and burn” of having to provide large lump sums to the schools. Recipients can also put the scholarship on hold if they need to take time away from school, and CHFT will continue to honour it when they return.
The effects of the scholarship can be far-reaching. Winners often go on to become leaders in their communities, which Clement sees in the co-op sector as well. “In the last number of years, we’ve had ten people under the age of thirty elected to the CHFT board of directors,” he says.
Clement has many stories of the personal impact, as well. One student saw her scholarships as a “vote of confidence” from her community. After another student’s difficult first year, she was hesitant to return to school, but her co-op gave her a “friendly intervention” and she ended up not only finishing her program, but earning a Master’s degree as well.
“Our students bring something different to the universities and the colleges,” Clement says. “Everybody has a stake in this.”