College launches new bursary for women students

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This article was published 09/03/2024 (918 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Assiniboine Community College celebrated International Women’s Day on Friday by announcing a new bursary for female students made possible through a donation from a couple of local philanthropists.

The new Shannon & Harry Peters Hand-Up Renewable Bursary is aimed at helping single mothers looking to go back to school.

Speaking to the Sun on Friday, Shannon said the bursary will cover the tuition costs of successful recipients’ first and second academic years at the college, as well as some additional funds for living expenses.

“It was important to help someone through all their schooling, not just throw some money at them year one and then not know what to do the next year,” Shannon said. “So it’ll help somebody go through both years of school and then onto the next person.”

She said it was an idea she has had for quite some time. Years ago, when her children were still in school, she said she heard a radio interview during which a mother spoke of the challenges of raising a young child while both working and taking classes.

“It was hard enough to raise kids and put them through school when you had two parents and a good job and all that kind of stuff without struggling to make ends meet,” she said.

With her children grown up, she and her husband are extending a helping hand to someone in a similar situation, a person she refers to as her “radio muse.”

Shannon credits Laura Kempthorne from the Brandon Area Community Foundation for helping her establish the bursary in partnership with ACC.

In a media release sent out Friday, the college’s vice-president academic, Deanna Rexe, talked about the difficulties facing parents who decide to enrol.

“Choosing to pursue higher education takes a great deal of courage, and that courage is amplified for parents who decide to embark on that journey,” Rexe said.

“The challenges of balancing financial and mental stress while pursuing a career can serve as a barrier for those wanting to return to school to acquire new skills and training to better support their family.”

ACC president Mark Frison talked about how the topic hit close to home for him.

“I was raised by single mother on welfare who went back to school and in the process changed her life and my life,” Frison said.

“Student financial assistance was critical to allowing her to do so and pay her bills. As such, I’m extremely moved by what Ms. Peters is doing for future Assiniboine students.”

More information on the college’s awards and bursaries can be found online at assiniboine.net/awards. The size of the Peters’ donation was not disclosed.

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