Awards, scholarships and bursaries for Black students | Black History Month | Seneca Students

200330: Adebola Adefioye Scholarship

Awarded to a full-time student in the Honours Bachelor of Child Development degree program or the Early Childhood Education diploma program. This bursary is open to:

• Students who identify as Black
• Students who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit
• Students with a permanent disability (physical, intellectual, mental health or learning) who are receiving accommodations through Seneca Accessible Learning Services
• Students who identify as a person with diverse gender identity and/or sexual orientation (2SLGBTQ+)

The selection will be made by the Seneca awards committee based on academic excellence with a minimum GPA of 3.0. This award celebrates Adebola Taiwo Adefioye, Seneca alumna, founder of the Afro Women and Youth Foundation, and winner of the 2021 Colleges Ontario Premier's Award in the Recent Graduates category.

200208: Audrey Bullen and Tadeusz Smykiel Memorial Bursary

Awarded to a full-time nursing student who has a minimum GPA of 2.5 and demonstrates financial need. Emphasis is on a student who has faced hardship in accessing postsecondary education. The recipient identifies as Black and/or identifies as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. The recipient will be selected by the Seneca Awards committee and/or First Peoples@Seneca office.

200289: Black Seneca Student Award

Awarded to full-time or part-time students who identify as Black. The recipients demonstrate financial need and have a minimum GPA of 2.0. Recipients will be selected by the Seneca awards committee.

200290: Black Seneca Student Scholarship

Awarded to full-time or part-time students who identify as Black. The recipients demonstrate academic excellence and involvement in extracurricular activities. Recipients will be selected by the Seneca awards committee.

200292: Claire Shaver Award

Awarded to a student who identifies as Black or a student who identifies as First Nations, Métis or Inuit and is in one of the following programs or schools:

• School of Early Childhood Education
• School of Community Services
• Law Clerk
• Paralegal
• Behavioural Sciences
• Honours Bachelor of Behavioural Psychology

The recipient will be selected based on financial need, leadership and academic achievement.

The recipient will be recommended by the Seneca awards committee. This award is established by Claire Shaver to support racialized students pursuing programs that will help them strengthen their communities and society at large.

200346: DWAH Diversity Award

Awarded to a full-time Veterinary Technician student in their final year. This award is open to:

• Students who identify as Black
• Students who identify as a person with diverse gender identity and/or sexual orientation (2SLGBTQ+)
• Students who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit
• Students with a permanent disability (physical, intellectual, mental health or learning) who are receiving accommodations through Seneca Accessible Learning Services

The selection will be based on financial need and recipients will have a minimum GPA of 2.5 to be eligible. The selection will be made by the Seneca awards committee.

200347: Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Bursary

Awarded to full-time & part-time students who demonstrate financial need. This bursary is open to:

• Students who identify as Black
• Students who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit
• Students with a permanent disability (physical, intellectual, mental health or learning) who are receiving accommodations through Seneca Accessible Learning Services
• Students who identify as a person with diverse gender identity and/or sexual orientation (2SLGBTQ+)

200296: Hendricks Family Empowering Black Students Bursary

Awarded to a full-time student who identifies as Black. The recipient will demonstrate financial need and have overcome obstacles in pursuit of their postsecondary education. The recipient will be selected by the Seneca awards committee. The award is established by Leolyn Hendricks, a Seneca retiree who believes in the transformational power of education and wants to help students achieve personal success through learning.

200355: IDEXX Foundation Vet Tech Endowed Bursary

Awarded to a first-year student in the full-time Veterinary Technician diploma program. The recipient identifies as part of an equity-deserving group and demonstrates financial need. Preference is given to students who are involved in extra-curricular activities or volunteering.

200356: IDEXX Foundation Vet Tech Self-Care Bursary

Awarded to students who intend to enroll in the Acute Self-Care for Veterinary Professionals microcredential at Seneca. Recipients will be first year students in the Veterinary Technician program who demonstrate financial need. Recipients have overcome obstacles in pursuit of their education and/or identify as part of an equity-deserving group.

200358: Joycelyn Jeffers Student Recognition Award

Awarded to a student enrolled in the School of Legal, Public & Office Administration who identifies as Black. The recipient will have a minimum GPA of 3.5 and demonstrate financial need. Preference is given to students in the Justice Administration Services program.

200361: Krishnan Family Technology Award

Awarded to a student in a full-time program in the School of Information Technology Administration & Security or the School of Software Design & Data Science with a minimum GPA of 2.5 and demonstrated financial need. The recipient identifies as part of an equity-deserving group and has overcome hardship in pursuit of their education.

200365: Lin & Muller Open Doors Award

Awarded to a student in a full-time program who demonstrates financial need and has overcome hardship in pursuit of their education. This bursary is open to:

• Students who identify as Black
• Students who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit

200366: Linda Wilson Memorial Award

Awarded to a student in the full-time Office Administration – Legal program who demonstrates academic achievement and financial need. Preference will be given to students who identify as part of an equity-deserving group. Established in memory of Linda Wilson who was a longtime employee of McCarthy Tétrault and created pathways for student engagement.

200368: Mary Fisher Award

Awarded to a student in the full-time Early Childhood Education (regular or accelerated) program or the full-time Honours Bachelor of Child Development program. Open to students who identify as Black and/or who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. Applicants must demonstrate financial need. Selection is based on giving back to the community. This award was established in 2022 to honour the retirement of Mary Fisher, Chair of the School of Early Childhood Education.

200371: Professor Laurie Pratt-Forster Memorial Award

Awarded to a student in one of the following full-time programs:

• Environmental Landscape Management
• Environmental Technician
• Environmental Technology
• Honours Bachelor of Community Mental Health
• Non-Profit & Social Sector Management
• Project Management – Environmental
• Social Service Worker
• Social Service Worker – Gerontology
• Social Service Worker – Immigrants & Refugees
• Sustainable Business Management

The recipient will be an international student or part of an equity-deserving group. Selection is based on demonstrated financial need with a minimum GPA of 3.0 to be eligible. This award honours Laurie Pratt-Forster, Loyalist College professor and trained social worker, who is remembered for her generosity of spirit and community-mindedness.

200318: SSF Equity Bursary

Awarded to full-time and part-time students who demonstrate financial need. This bursary is open to:

• students who identify as Black
• students who identify as First Nations, Métis or Inuit
• students with a permanent disability (physical, intellectual, mental health or learning) who are receiving accommodations through Seneca Accessible Learning Services
• students who identify as a person with diverse gender identity and/or sexual orientation (2SLGBTQ+)

Recipients will be selected by the Seneca awards committee.

200372: Sovereign Insurance Equity Award

Awarded to a full-time Fire Protection Engineering Technology student who identifies as part of an equity-deserving group. The selection will be based on grades and demonstrated financial need.

200375: Walker Wood Foundation Equity Award

Awarded to domestic students in a full-time program who demonstrate financial need. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 to be eligible and the awards are open to the following:

• Students who identify as Black;
• Students who identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit;
• Students with a permanent disability (physical, intellectual, mental health or learning) who are receiving accommodations through Seneca Accessible Learning Services;
• Students who identify as a person with diverse gender identity and/or sexual orientation (2SLGBTQ+)

How to Apply

There are opportunities throughout the year. Many awards open in September and have a deadline of October 31. Click here to apply. There are some awards that open at other times in the year such as Entrance Scholarships, Tuition Assistance Bursaries and Leadership Awards. Students are encouraged to check the Awards Open for Application regularly for updates.