CELEBRATING YOUTH LEADERSHIP AND THE POWER OF EDUCATION
Rick Hansen Foundation Announces Recipients of the Rick and Amanda Hansen Scholarship for Youth with Disabilities

The Rick Hansen Foundation (RHF) is proud to announce the first recipients of the Rick and Amanda Hansen Scholarship for Youth with Disabilities. Announced earlier this year, this ground-breaking initiative was generously funded by the April 1 Foundation to honour the decades of transformative work by Rick and Amanda Hansen.

The Rick and Amanda Hansen Scholarship for Youth with Disabilities was established to recognize and support students with disabilities who are committed to leadership, community involvement, and academic excellence. This year, five students have been selected from a competitive pool of applicants across the country. Each recipient will receive financial assistance to support their post-secondary education, helping them to unlock their full potential and contribute to a more inclusive society.

"Amanda and I are honoured and grateful to have this opportunity to offer this scholarship. Our commitment to support youth stems back to almost four decades to the start of the Man In Motion World Tour," said Rick Hansen, Founder of the Rick Hansen Foundation. "We are overwhelmed by the number of applicants for this inaugural scholarship, which underscores the need for a fund that recognizes and supports the leadership potential of students with disabilities. Amanda and I are incredibly proud of all the applicants and recipients. They truly represent the next generation of difference makers!"

Five students will receive funding to cover costs for their academic school year. Funding of up to $10,000 per year (up to a maximum of $40,000) is available to youth with disabilities who are under the age of 30 years as of the application deadline, looking to complete a 1- to 4-year post-secondary program at a publicly funded institution in Canada.

"We are thrilled to be able to provide five students financial support to achieve their career aspirations as they pursue their post-secondary education," said Doramy Ehling, CEO Rick Hansen Foundation. "The response to our call for applicants was incredible and we were humbled to see so many excellent candidates. These five recipients represent a diverse range of students, and we encourage those who may not have been selected this year to apply again for the following academic year."

Rick and Amanda Hansen believe that supporting youth leadership and education is essential to building a future where everyone can thrive. "Education is not just about personal development; it's about creating a society where everyone has the opportunity to contribute," added Ehling. "By investing in these young leaders, we are investing in a future where barriers are eliminated, and inclusion is the norm."

The inaugural recipients are:

Siyal Baweja from Coquitlam, British Columbia is attending Douglas College with an ultimate career goal to become a Kinesiologist that works with young people adapting to physical disabilities. He has been proactive in advocating for himself throughout his education, also hoping his efforts will benefit future students with similar struggles.

Eunice Beno from Mississauga, Ontario attends Humber College and has been a role model for younger students who are Deaf and hard of hearing - providing counsel and advice about assistive technology and accommodations, as well as encouraging other teens facing difficulties due to their hearing difficulties. She aspires to be a NICU nurse.

Paige MacDonald from Saint John, New Brunswick attends the University of New Brunswick and is passionate about paving a way for people with disabilities to achieve their academic goals through her volunteer work with Best Buddies. She will be pursuing her Bachelor of Arts with a French major.

Adele Orr from Dundas, Ontario is attending Brock University to pursue her Bachelor of Accounting. She has been an advocate for the disability community for her entire life through work as a spokesperson and being involved with two accessibility committees at Brock University.

Crystal Ward from Kirkton, Ontario is attending Wilfrid Laurier University where she will continue her leadership in the area of mental health following years of youth engagement and co-facilitating trainings to support queer youth. She has advocated for BIPOC youth through policy recommendations, and has created safe spaces for marginalized voices. Crystal will pursue her Bachelor of Social Work.

These students represent the next generation of leaders who will continue to advance the cause of accessibility and inclusion in Canada and beyond.

The Rick and Amanda Hansen Scholarship stands as a testament to the power of education in transforming lives and communities. The Foundation looks forward to supporting more students with disabilities in the years to come, helping them to achieve their goals and become the leaders of tomorrow.

Applications will re-open for the 2025/26 academic year in early 2025. For more information about the scholarship including eligibility criteria visit www.RickHansen.com/Scholarship.

About Youth with Disabilities in Canada:

In 2022, 20% of youth had a disability, an increase of 7 percentage points over 2017, when the disability rate was 13%. Statistics Canada, Canadian Survey on Disability, December 2023.

People living with disabilities are less likely to report completing higher levels of education compared to those living disability free. One-in-four (24%) say they graduated university, compared to 32% of those without disabilities. Angus Reid, Canadians concerned about disability poverty, on-board with proposed new national benefit, 2021.