Donor impact

Scholarships are motivating student success

Graduate student researcher Thomas Rawliuk is working to uncover resilience factors and promote healthier outcomes for all.

Thomas Rawliuk [BSc(Hons)/22, MA/24] started his academic career by attending Red River College to become a paramedic. After he began working as a medic, he found that interacting with patients made him more curious about human physiology and psychology. Because of this he decided to go to university and to explore these concepts with the goal of someday being able to have a larger impact on people's lives.

“When I came to the university as an undergrad, I found that a lot of my previous knowledge from college and from high school was all based on the hard sciences like biology, chemistry and physics, which is why I pursued an undergraduate degree in science,” he said. “But while at UM, I started delving into psychology, and I was struck with a moment of realization that I can blend the two concepts together. I ultimately determined that research was the way I wanted to go and that was because I was interested in how the mind and the body connect.”

Thomas Rawliuk

Exploring human resilience

As Rawliuk continued his education and ventured into a master’s degree, he discovered that other people were interested in the same thing—and that he could use the knowledge he gained as a paramedic and apply it to the new knowledge he’d gained throughout his undergrad. He decided to focus his research on human resilience, which is the capacity for the body to respond quickly and effectively to mental illness and neurological disease, and how it varies across humans.

“My goals are to identify how the mind and body work together to determine our outcomes when in response to stressful experiences or adversity in life and to develop actionable behaviours that optimally preserve and promote resilience,” he said. "Eventually I’d like to develop a research program that aims to use all aspects of resilience to encourage preventive behaviours that delay or stop the onset of disease.”

Support that Fuels Discovery

To aid him in completing his research, Rawliuk applied for and received the 23/24 Faculty of Graduate Studies Research Completion Scholarship. He said this award, and others he’s received throughout his academic career, have helped alleviate financial stress, allowing him to focus more intently on his education and research and ultimately pursue his goals.

“Often when pursuing long-term goals, it is easy to feel isolated, constantly questioning whether one is doing enough. I am honoured to be recognized for my hard work, and I feel more confident and motivated on this path I have chosen for myself, knowing that I am supported and encouraged by donors to continue learning and discovering. This award is a heartwarming reminder that effort does not go unnoticed within a strong community,” he said.

Rawliuk has felt firsthand the UM community’s commitment to recognition and encourages other students looking for support to explore the many donor-funded scholarships, bursaries and awards provided through the university.

“If I were to give other students any advice, I would say to not treat scholarships too seriously and don't approach them as if they're something to be feared,” he said. “These awards are there to help you get through school, and you may get them, or you may not. But apply for as many as you can and know that the people supporting these awards believe in you and want to see you succeed.”

I am honoured to be recognized for my hard work, and I feel more confident and motivated on this path I have chosen for myself, knowing that I am supported and encouraged by donors to continue learning and discovering.

Thomas Rawliuk

By

Emily Janssens

What does a future fueled by generosity look like? It’s in the faces of new graduates with big ideas, in bold research solutions for Manitoba and the world, and in community initiatives coming to life in collaborative ways. Here, a legacy of philanthropy is shaping the leaders, innovators and change-makers of tomorrow. Learn how you can get involved.