The Dawson Student Union (DSU), the Student Services team of Dawson College and the Dawson College Foundation have come together to help students in need.

“This year is very difficult for students who are already at risk,” said Yvonne Dudley of Dawson’s Financial Aid Office. “Even though the federal and provincial governments have been trying to support the most vulnerable, these funds can only do so much.  Students who usually supplement their student loans with part-time jobs are finding it more difficult to find employment.”

DSU felt need to act

George Rigas, the DSU’s Director of Internal Affairs and Advocacy, said that the student union felt the need to act. “The pandemic has showed us that the student body is filled with social inequalities and they have unfortunately been accentuated by the current situation,” he said. “Some students are in need of aid for even the most basic necessities.”

The DSU, the College and the Foundation have created a new bursary called the Dawson College Financial Aid Bursary. “Intended to help local and international students with living or educational expenses, the new bursary is designed to offer some support to students who may otherwise abandon their pursuit of higher education,” explained Ursula Cabral of the Foundation.

$40,000 given to Financial Aid Fund

To date, $40,000 has been allocated to the Foundation’s Financial Aid Fund to provide new bursaries and to help students in other ways too. Sixty-one donors gave $5,000 through appeals in D News and social media and in honour of the Dawson Blues Band project. The DSU and Student Services committed the rest.

“The fund is collected from the community for the community, which is what Dawson College is all about,” said Monique Magnan, Director of Student Services.

Students are already benefitting from bursaries for books, food vouchers, punctual funding for urgent needs and food items from the Food Bank.

Giving students the same opportunity

“The new bursary will allow students to purchase necessities so that they need not worry about financial security and have more time to concentrate on their studies, giving all students the same opportunity to succeed academically,” said George.

Students will be able to apply for a bursary of $500 per academic year. “They will also be able to meet with our Financial Aid Officer, Yvonne Dudley, who has many years of experience helping students put together budgets, manage those budgets and make sure they are aware of the various resources available to them both inside and outside of the College,” said Monique. “Having an individual with so much experience helping students, like Yvonne, is a real asset to the College and to our students in need.”

The power of good news

Yvonne believes the bursary will be a real encouragement: “A little good news can change a person’s outlook. If we can help a student get through a very bad time, it can change their whole semester in a positive way.”

You can still donate

Donations are still needed to keep helping our students in this unprecedented situation. Donate here