Bursary life-changing for BU student

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This article was published 26/11/2024 (481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

For Brandon University student Cassity Delvenne, receiving the $5,000 TELUS Student Bursary for the second consecutive year has been a “transformative lifeline.”

The bursary has allowed the First Nations mother to pursue her dream of studying psychology and native studies while navigating challenges.

In 2023, Delvenne was one of the nearly 1,000 students across nine provinces, including the 29 in Manitoba that received the TELUS Student Bursary when it was launched.

She told the Sun the bursary helped alleviate the financial strain of balancing academics and raising her three-year-old daughter.

“I didn’t have transportation before,” she said in an interview. “This bursary allowed me to get my daughter to daycare, focus on my studies and work in community-based roles that align with my career goals.”

Delvenne’s journey has not been without hardship. Growing up, she faced the realities of addiction, mental illness and abuse within her family. She also experienced homelessness and a loss of connection to her Indigenous culture.

“The feeling of helplessness and guilt was overwhelming,” she said. “But this support has given me hope. It’s allowed me to focus on my studies and provided a sense of stability.”

Despite these challenges, Delvenne has “excelled academically” and is determined to use her experiences to help others.

“I want to work with youth and make a difference,” she said. “As an Indigenous woman, I hope to inspire others by showing that it’s possible to overcome adversity.”

The TELUS Student Bursary program, launched in 2023 by the TELUS Friendly Future Foundation, has provided financial support to nearly 1,000 students across nine provinces, including 29 in Manitoba.

Executive director Nimmi Kanji told the Sun the program is committed to equity.

“This year alone, 76 per cent of this year’s bursaries were awarded to equity-deserving groups, and half of the recipients are the first in their families to attend post-secondary education,” Kanji said.

“The program was created through a $25-million endowment gift from TELUS, along with an additional $25-million commitment in fundraising from TELUS Friendly Future Foundation. To date, we have awarded over $4 million in bursaries.”

The bursary fund, Kanji said, was formed to address the financial challenges many Canadian students and parents face relating to post-secondary education, “with 65 per cent of students defining themselves as financially unstable and nearly half currently unable to adequately cover basic needs such as food and housing.”

In addition to the bursary, Delvenne recently joined the TELUS Manitoba and Saskatchewan Community Board. In this role, she collaborates with local business and community leaders to direct $600,000 in annual funding to charities addressing youth-focused needs.

“I participated in my first board meeting last week and participating in the board has been a surreal experience and I am honoured that this group of community leaders values my insights and experience in making these important decisions,” she said.

“It’s amazing to have my insights valued in deciding where TELUS’ funding will make the biggest impact. It’s an opportunity to give back and support others the way I’ve been supported.”

Delvenne hopes other organizations will follow TELUS’ lead in providing support to students.

“There are so many students who could benefit from programs like this. I encourage organizations to invest in youth — it can change lives,” she said.

With two more years of her program remaining, Delvenne looks forward to continuing her education and building a future where she can help others navigate mental health challenges.

“This bursary has been a blessing,” she said. “It’s shown me what’s possible when you have the right support.”

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