Donor support throughout the student journey

Every student arrives at the University of Manitoba in the midst of a transition, bringing their own goals, challenges and dreams for the future. Donor-funded scholarships and bursaries help students navigate key moments in that journey, from adjusting to university life to advancing research that creates lasting impact. 

For many students, donor support arrives during one of life's biggest transitions: the move from high school to university. New academic expectations, new communities and new financial responsibilities can make that adjustment challenging. Scholarships and bursaries help ease the transition, allowing students to focus on building confidence, connections and a foundation for future success.  

The Walter and Maria Schroeder Foundation Scholarship program begins with a summer learning program, which helped recipient Darshan Singh refresh his math and literacy skills through engaging, hands-on sessions. The scholarship then helped ease the transition into university life, gave him the confidence to immerse himself on campus and provided support as he began pursuing his long-term goal of becoming a physician.  

Elliot Thordarson felt The Asper Foundation Entrance Bursary represented much more than financial assistance. Growing up in a low-income household, he knows from personal experience the barriers that can stand between talented students and their aspirations.

Now studying finance and business analytics at the I.H. Asper School of Business, Thordarson hopes to pursue graduate studies focused on economic development and socialized housing. His academic interests are shaped by his lived experience and a desire to create systems that improve people's lives. 

As students move beyond their first year, donor support helps them navigate challenges, explore their interests and stay focused on what matters most.

The Michaleski Family Bursary provided encouragement during a journey marked by resilience and determination for recipient Julie Derbowka. A few months before graduating high school, Derbowka lost her mother to cancer. In the years that followed, she balanced grief, work and family responsibilities while trying to find the educational path that was right for her. After exploring different programs and career options, she found her place at UM.

"I am now confident and excited about my future, as I am studying subjects that I truly enjoy," Derbowka says. "For the first time, I feel I've found a career direction that I can envision myself in for the rest of my life."

Inspired by a lifelong love of creativity and design, Derbowka hopes to become a landscape architect, combining artistic interests with a meaningful career. The bursary eased financial pressures and helped her continue pursuing her education. 

For Kian Calder, the Donald and Elaine Triggs Bursary arrived while he was balancing the demands of university life as a former member of the UM men's hockey team. As a student-athlete, he juggled academics, athletics, family and community commitments while pursuing environmental studies. Calder has a passion for wildlife and the environment that surrounds it and hopes to build a career focused on environmental stewardship.

At the graduate studies level, students are often supporting their families and living away from home while studying and doing research. Donor support is critical to graduate students as it fuels research that extends well beyond the classroom, creating benefits for communities, industries and future generations.

Master's student Kayla Shaganash, recipient of the Sid Kroker Scholarship, is conducting research focused on Manitoba archaeology and northern regions of the province. A First Nations scholar, Shaganash works collaboratively with Indigenous communities while helping bring greater attention to archaeological research in Northern Manitoba. 

Shaganash hopes her work will inspire more First Nations, Inuit and Métis students to pursue archaeology and contribute new knowledge to the field. She plans to continue her research through doctoral studies while sharing Manitoba's stories on national and international stages. 

Chemistry graduate student Christian Lozeau notes that the Bert and Lee Friesen Graduate Scholarship in Chemistry is providing the stability needed to focus on his research and thesis work.

The scholarship helps cover everyday expenses such as rent, tuition and groceries while reducing the financial pressures that often accompany graduate studies. It represents both practical support and meaningful recognition of his potential as a researcher. 

While their stories are different, these students share the common thread of having been supported by donors who chose to invest in them and their potential.

Their experiences demonstrate that philanthropy’s impact extends beyond funding education. It empowers students at every stage of their journey to pursue their goals, overcome obstacles and create a brighter future for themselves and others.