Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation awards bursaries to secondary students
Thanks to the generosity of the Hamilton Golf and Country Club Foundation (HGCCF), 22 secondary students across Hamilton have each been given a $4,500 bursary to help fund their post-secondary education.
At an award celebration on June 4, eight students representing the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board were honoured:
Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School - Samantha Kemperman
Bishop Tonnos Catholic Secondary School - Alessa Sergio
Cathedral High School - Eugenia Kaberuka
St. Jean de Brébeuf Catholic Secondary School - Chyra Ordona
St. John Henry Newman Catholic Secondary School - Julianna Macphee
St. Mary Catholic Secondary School - Samah Abdelhafiz
St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School - Haya M.A.Ali
Wilma’s Place - Keyshawn Newell
The bursary was created to not only reward the success of students during their high school career, but to ensure they would not have to put their post-secondary dreams on hold due to financial strain.
The majority of the funds for the award comes from the club’s major charity golf tournament – the Dick Borthwick Memorial Golf Tournament – held every September, and through generous individual donations.
This year, the club made its most significant contribution to date, providing bursary funding for one student at each secondary school in the city.
In addition to funding, a mentorship program is also in the works, partnering recipients with club members in a similar field of interest who will serve as a point of contact throughout their academic journey.
Bringing opening remarks, HGCCF Chief Operating Officer Alan Carter underscored how special the day was.
“We wish you all the best on the next steps in your life. We look forward to hearing the successes that you have down the road.”
For St. Thomas More Catholic Secondary School recipient, Haya M.A.Ali, this honour is another step closer to her dreams.
A first-generation immigrant, Haya shared her journey as a refugee forced to flee her home due to war-torn violence. Seeking refuge in Thailand, she was rejected from school due to her hijab.
“My parents and I took on the role of teachers. They taught me how to read and write in Arabic and English, and I taught myself how to speak in English using the internet. Finally, when I was 15, we received the call Canada had accepted our application.”
Upon moving to Canada three years ago, she overcame initial academic difficulties, volunteered and participated in leadership workshops. She is now a co-op student in a law office and aims to attend law school to become an immigration lawyer, helping others with similar backgrounds.
“This scholarship will help me get closer to my dream of attending law school to become an immigration lawyer, to help people who share their past experiences, people who have no voice, people who need someone to stand up for their rights, people who want to live in freedom and safety.”
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