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Each year since 2019, 10 GECDSB graduates have earned the Robert Little and Debra Deane Little Scholarships valued at $10,500 per year, for up to 4 years of post-secondary studies at a Canadian university. That is a total of $42,000 per student. Four of the students who were in the first group of Scholarship recipients graduated from University in April 2023. Continue reading below to learn about how the Littles鈥� contribution has impacted the lives and trajectories of these remarkable students.
Kalie Chapman
Kalie is a graduate from the University of Windsor. She received her Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in English Literature and Creative Writing and will be returning to the University of Windsor to pursue a master鈥檚 degree in Creative Writing.
鈥淭his scholarship gave me the opportunity to pursue my passion for writing without financial hardship as a limitation. Thanks to this scholarship and the Littles鈥� gracious gift, I could focus my energy into exploring several leadership and volunteer opportunities at the university while maintaining academic excellence, without fear of the great debt I would otherwise be suffocated by. This scholarship was the most fulfilling encouragement I could have received at the end of high school, acknowledging me for the academic and community involvement I poured myself into. I felt heard, understood, and appreciated. As a result of this motivation, I can now make my lifelong passion into a withstanding career. I am determined to continue my education as long as I can and build a strong, self-fulfilling life worthy of the gift I was granted four years ago.鈥�
Zeynab Abdalla
Zeynab has graduated with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in human kinetics and plans to become either an Occupational Therapist or a Speech Pathologist, as these professions combine her love for helping others with her academic background and skills.
鈥淚 am excited to take on the next chapter of my life, and I am confident that with my degree and my passion for making a difference, I will be able to achieve my goals and positively impact the lives of those around me鈥 am proud to have been a recipient of this scholarship and to have been a part of a community of people who are dedicated to helping students like me achieve their academic dreams.鈥�
Zarhraa Chami
Zarhraa graduated from the University of Windsor with a Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Biology and Biochemistry, Health and Biomedical Sciences. She plans to attend medical school and become a physician.
鈥淭his scholarship has been instrumental in providing me with a financially stress-free undergraduate experience. It has relieved me of the constant worry about tuition fees, allowing me to fully concentrate on my studies and pursue my academic goals with unwavering focus and determination. I cannot emphasize enough how this support has shaped my educational journey and transformed it into a truly enriching experience.鈥�
The GECDSB congratulates each of the graduating students and wishes them success in their ongoing academic and professional endeavours.