Scholarship program raises more than $10 million for TMU students
President Mohamed Lachemi on how the PACE scholarships help students earn degrees.
Saije Catcheway (Law and Business ’25) was attending college in the United States but the high tuition and cost of living forced her to switch gears. She thought her dreams of completing a post-secondary education and playing college-level hockey might be over until TMU accepted her in the business program. Catcheway then received a scholarship from the President’s Awards to Champion Equity (PACE), created by the Johnson Scholarship Foundation and the Bennett family, which eased her financial situation and the dual demands of being a student athlete.
Her experience may seem a long way off from the circumstances of a university president, but TMU President Mohamed Lachemi knows something about this situation. “My family didn’t have the resources to send me to post-secondary education,” said Lachemi.
“Scholarships and fellowships helped me earn an engineering degree, and brought me to Canada as an international student for graduate work and postdoctoral studies. The doors to these opportunities would have been closed to me had it not been for the caring generosity of others. Since then, at every stage of my career, I have seen how valuable support from friends and alumni is to our ability to shape student success and encourage excellence.”
Saije Catcheway (Law and Business ’25) received a PACE award, easing her financial situation.
President Lachemi announced the awards at his installation ceremony, stating the goal was to expand the opportunity to empower student potential and build equity.
Lachemi’s experience as an international student and scholarship recipient led him to announce at his October 2016 installation as president his intention to raise $10 million worth of scholarships and awards to support students from equity-deserving groups. The President’s Awards to Champion Equity, or PACE as the program came to be known, was grounded in the recognition that post-secondary education can transform lives and break cycles of intergenerational poverty and social exclusion. Lachemi’s goal was to expand that opportunity to empower potential and build equity.
Today, thanks to the support of more than 1,100 donors, PACE has recently surpassed its original goal of $10 million. A community and collective effort, PACE awards were created by individuals, corporations, foundations—by board members, alumni, friends, faculty and staff, and university leadership. More than 800 of the gifts to PACE were under $1000, and several of the gifts were over $1 million. The president personally championed the awards, giving more than $100,000 of his own to the cause.
Receiving a PACE award means that Edmun Natkunarajah (Urban and Regional Planning ’23) has been able to focus on his studies.
For Edmun Natkunarajah (Urban and Regional Planning ’23), receiving a PACE award “has been a beacon of support and encouragement. Because of the TMU Pride Award, I was able to focus on my studies, complete my degree, and now I am in a position to give back to the community. It brings me joy because, as a queer person, as a member of the LGBTQ community, I feel recognized here at the university.”
“This gracious gift relieved a weight from my shoulders,” says Catcheway. “I am a first-generation student and it wouldn’t have been possible without these scholarships. I’m grateful for being able to continue my education, and pay my living expenses and transportation home.” In the summer months, Catcheway returns home to Skownan First Nation in Manitoba to mentor students from Grade 3 to Grade 7. “I want to inspire Indigenous kids to further their education.”
Natkunarajah and Catcheway’s stories represent just some of the impact of the PACE program. Over 5,900 students are supported annually through the PACE program of awards.
PACE is all about supporting promising young talent. Recipients may be the first in their family to attend university. They might be an international student, an Indigenous student, a racialized and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ student, or a student with a disability. She may also be a woman in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) – or from another group underrepresented in post-secondary education.
The awards are rooted in the knowledge that improving access to education is the engine that powers change, not just for people they support but for the entire society. Equity and access continue to be priorities at TMU and fundraising for PACE will continue.
With the president’s original goal of $10 million accomplished, let’s celebrate this significant milestone as a community. Thank you to all who joined this campaign to champion equity.