Toronto Raptor Chris Boucher presents scholarship to TMU student
Helen Harry is one step closer to achieving her dreams with the Spanning the Gaps bridging program and the SlimmDuck scholarship. Video by Jonathan Cheung-Budd
Earlier this year, the SlimmDuck Scholarship was set up at Toronto Metropolitan University by NBA basketball player Chris Boucher of the Toronto Raptors, who aims to open doors to university education for students who identify as Caribbean.
The first ever recipient of the SlimmDuck Scholarship was announced last month at a special event at The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education. The evening was dedicated to recognizing students who completed the Spanning the Gaps bridging program this fall. The program offers a pathway to university for learners who want to pursue an undergraduate degree but have gaps resulting in incomplete admission requirements for a traditional pathway into post-secondary education.
"The SlimmDuck Scholarship will help ease some of my financial burdens as I start studying towards my dream of becoming a midwife," said the scholarship’s inaugural recipient Helen Harry, who moved to Toronto from St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She began her journey with Spanning the Gaps this year, and now has financial support to help her complete her undergraduate degree.
“Congratulations to Helen Harry for receiving the inaugural SlimmDuck Foundation Scholarship at Toronto Metropolitan University,” said Chris Boucher. “We are proud to provide equal access to higher education for students of Caribbean descent, a mission directly aligned with the goals of my Foundation.”
The SlimmDuck scholarship includes the full suite of Spanning the Gaps programming offered through The Chang School, and $5,000 towards the cost of first-year undergraduate tuition at TMU.
“At The Chang School, we are deeply committed to removing barriers to education for mature, equity-deserving and non-traditional learners. Spanning the Gaps would not exist without the generosity of donors like Chris Boucher and The SlimmDuck Foundation,” said Gary Hepburn, Dean of The Chang School.
To learn more about Helen, her journey and goals for her future, read her profile on The Chang School website.