Seven post-secondary students who have shown commitment to their communities were presented with awards through the Building Foundations Bursary Program at a ceremony at the Legislative Building, Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith announced on January 27.
"Our government is proud to support these exemplary students to build solid foundations for future success through post-secondary education," said Smith. "These awards will give them an opportunity to focus on their studies and achieve their goals."
The Building Foundations Bursary Program provides bursaries to eligible applicants in post-secondary programs in Manitoba who live in subsidized housing or receive a rent supplement funded by Manitoba Housing. Recipients are selected based on a combination of criteria including academic excellence and community volunteering.
The minister noted the program was expanded in 2024 to include students enrolled part-time, in addition to full-time students. The bursary amount was increased to $2,000 for full-time students, with part-time students receiving $1,000.
Bursary awards of $2,000 each are being presented to seven full-time students. They are:
- Mohamed Behi, pursuing bachelor of arts and bachelor of education degrees at the University of Winnipeg Education Centre;
- Theresa Boubard, pursuing a diploma in First Nations addictions and mental health at YellowQuill University College;
- Samantha Broesky, working toward a bachelor's degree in creative writing with a minor in rhetoric at the University of Winnipeg;
- Amber Fontaine, working toward a bachelor's degree in social work at the University of Manitoba;
- Patrick Jennings, pursuing an education as an electronics technician at the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology;
- Paul Ogieva, working toward a bachelor's degree in business at Canadian Mennonite University; and
- Brandi Soloway, pursuing education in civil engineering technology at Red River College Polytechnic.
Since 2008, the Building Foundations Bursary Program has assisted 166 post-secondary students to pursue their educational goals, awarding a total of $163,000 in bursaries.
The Manitoba government partners with The Winnipeg Foundation to help grow the program fund. Manitobans can help students pursue their education goals by making a donation to the Building Foundations Bursary Fund at https://mycharitytools.com/gift/wpgfdn/donate?fund=288.
For more information about the Building Foundations Bursary Program, visit: https://manitoba.ca/housing/tenants/bursary.html.
