Meet the President’s Entrance Scholarship recipients making an impact
Sheilae Siagian and Annie Phou are two of the 12 recipients of the prestigious President’s Entrance Scholarship. Photos by Alyssa K. Faoro
Demonstrating academic excellence, leadership, creativity, and originality, the 12 recipients of TMU’s President’s Entrance Scholarship exemplify what it means to make a meaningful impact. Among them, Sheilae Siagian and Annie Phou are dedicated to community service, challenging stereotypes and uplifting those around them.
For Siagian and Annie, receiving the President’s Entrance Scholarship was more than just financial support, it was a recognition of their hard work and a motivation to continue excelling. The scholarship provides a total of $40,000 in financial support to first-year students, spread over four years. Recipients are also guaranteed space in campus residence.
First-year GCM student Sheilae Siagian shares her passion for supporting newcomers in Canada.
Using creativity to support newcomers
Sheilae Siagian, a first-year student in The Creative School’s Graphic Communications Management (GCM) program, understands firsthand the challenges that come with being a newcomer. As an international student from Indonesia who arrived in Canada just before the COVID-19 pandemic, she faced difficulties adjusting to a new country with limited support systems. Now, she’s determined to help others going through similar experiences.
During high school, Siagian’s teachers asked her to create a video application for a grant supporting newcomers in Canada. With a background in art and digital media, she saw this as an opportunity to give back.
“I was really close with my teachers, and they knew I took a lot of art and digital courses,” she said. “They asked me for a favour to create this video, and I agreed because I was in the same position as these newcomers.”
Working with a friend, Siagian developed a short animation about the struggles of newcomers and the need for government support, which garnered a $3,000 grant from this project. The project was deeply personal for her, as she had to adjust to a new country with limited resources during the pandemic.
“I came right before COVID hit, so there wasn’t much support for me. Everything was shut down, and it was really hard to make friends and feel comfortable in a new environment,” she said. “I didn’t want others to go through the same thing, so I used my experience to create something that could help.”
First-year psychology student Annie Phou shares her story coming from an immigrant family and creating social change through challenging stereotypes.
Breaking stereotypes and leading change
Annie Phou, a first-year psychology student in the Faculty of Arts, has always been passionate about challenging stereotypes and uplifting her community. Growing up in Toronto’s Jane and Finch neighborhood, she saw how negative perceptions shaped the way others viewed her school and peers. Inspired by her dad's immigrant story, Phou was determined to create change. So she led her school’s participation in the Canadian Cancer Society’s Relay for Life, an initiative that raised nearly $8,000, far exceeding the original goal of $2,000.
“I knew that I wanted to be a part of something big,” Phou said. “When I saw this opportunity with the Canadian Cancer Society, I thought, ‘This is my chance to do something meaningful.’”
Taking on a leadership role, Phou organized an ice cream sandwich fundraiser, planned awareness activities, and even secured $700 in donations from Bay Street lawyers. However, the experience also came with challenges. When she and her team attended a conference, they faced exclusion and dismissive attitudes from students and organizers who underestimated their abilities.
“At first, we felt demoralized, but I wasn’t going to just accept that,” Phou said. “This was an opportunity to prove that our community is capable, determined, and hardworking. That experience only fueled our motivation to work even harder.”
A scholarship that made a difference
For both Siagian and Phou, receiving the President’s Entrance Scholarship was a life-changing moment.
Siagian, as an international student, notes that the scholarship alleviated financial stress and gave her the freedom to fully engage in university life.
“It’s a really big grant, especially as an international student. It lifted a huge burden off my family,” she said. “I feel a responsibility to maintain my GPA and keep the scholarship throughout my time at TMU. It pushes me to do my best.”
For Phou, the scholarship arrived at a critical moment. Just days before she received the news, she had lost out on another scholarship from her father’s workplace, leaving her feeling like she had disappointed her family.
“I was under a lot of stress for days,” she recalled. “Then I got an email from the president’s assistant asking if I had time to meet with the president. I had no idea what it was about, and when I found out, it was such an incredible moment. It made me believe in myself again.”
Finding community at TMU
Now in their second semester, both Siagian and Phoi are thriving in their respective programs. Siagian has found a close-knit community in GCM and is actively involved in student clubs.
“My program is really small, so we all know each other. It feels like a family,” she said. “I’m already in two clubs, and the upper-year students have been so supportive, helping me with scholarships, job opportunities, and just general advice.”
Phou, too, is eager to continue making a difference at TMU, carrying forward the leadership skills she developed in high school.
“This scholarship gave me the chance to enjoy my university experience while still staying focused,” she said. “I don’t slack off, but I also make sure to appreciate everything in front of me.”
Siagian and Phou’s stories are testaments to the power of resilience, leadership, and community; qualities that continue to shape their journeys at TMU.
