Leadership, Higher & Adult Education Awards (Descriptions)

Bonnie Burstow Scholarship for Research in Violence Against Indigenous Women in Memory of Helen Betty Osborne

Helen Betty Osborne (1952-1971) was a Cree Indigenous woman who dreamed of becoming a teacher who was kidnapped and murdered while walking down the street in The Pas, Manitoba. This award, named in her memory, is established in honour of all Indigenous women who are victims of violence. It will be awarded upon admission to an OISE student entering a thesis program in Adult Education & Community Development whose intended thesis focuses on violence against indigenous women (or the history underpinning it). Approaches to addressing the aftermath of violence can also be considered if, they are vested exclusively in Indigenous approaches, that are validated by Indigenous scholars/community members, with neither Western nor mixed approaches, qualifying.

For the purposes of this scholarship, violence against Indigenous women, Indigenous and Two-Spirit/Trans people is defined broadly. It includes not only what is conventionally seen as violence, such as murdered and missing, battery, and rape, it also includes such international violence as imprisonment, psychiatrization, and interference by child welfare.

If there is no suitable candidate identified by the Adult Education & Community Development admissions committee, then this scholarship may be awarded by competition in which any current OISE thesis student can apply (irrespective of program or department), whose thesis centrally involves research in this area.

Preference will be given to Indigenous women students and Indigenous students who identify as Two-Spirit/Trans.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $2,000).

Diversity and Feminism in Research Graduate Award

To be awarded to one or more students in the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education to attend scholarly conferences related to their research in diversity and/or women’s studies in education, scheduled on or before August 31, 2025. Preference will be given to non-funded students on the basis of financial need. Secondary preference will be given to first time applicants.

Applicants must be registered students in good academic standing (both at the time of application and at the time of the conference) and must have a demonstrated financial need based on the University’s criteria.

Awarded funding can only be used for the conference listed on the application, which must be scheduled on or before August 31, 2025. Funding cannot be transferred to another conference. Conference registration fees, transportation and accommodation costs are eligible for reimbursement. Meals are not eligible for reimbursement. Proof of attendance (e.g. attendance tag), original receipts (accommodation & transportation) and boarding passes will be required.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $2,000), which can be divided among multiple recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

Ethel Elizabeth Anderson Graduate Award in Adult Learning

The Ethel Elizabeth Anderson Graduate Award in Adult Learning was established in 1998 by Professor Harvey Anderson in honour of Ethel Elizabeth Anderson. It will be awarded to one or more research stream graduate students in the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education on the basis of financial need, research focus and academic merit. Applicants must be pursuing research on how adults outside the normal educational stream acquire the basic literacy and related skills to achieve their educational milestones.

Recipients must be registered students in good standing during the 2024-2025 academic year and must have a demonstrated financial need pursuant to the Ontario Student Opportunity Trust Funds (OSOTF) requirements. OSOTF awards are restricted to Ontario residents.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $12,000), which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of applicants.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

Jack Quarter Prize in Social Economy

The Jack Quarter Prize in Social Economy was established in 2011 in honour of Dr. Jack Quarter by his formal Doctoral students and others touched by his wisdom and support in making intellectual contributions to our collective knowledge and well-being in the social economy in Canada and around the world. It will be awarded to one or more research stream graduate students in the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education with the best approved thesis proposals (PhD or MA) to advance knowledge of the social economy, related organizations such as non-profits, cooperatives, and social enterprises, and related practices, such as community economic development. Recipients must be registered students in good academic standing during the 2024-2025 academic year and have promise in contribution to the understanding of the social economy.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $9,000) which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

Michael Skolnik Graduate Student Award

The award was established in 2011 in honour of Professor Michael Skolnik. Generous donations have been made by family and friends, with matching funds provided by the University of Toronto. It will be awarded to one or more Doctoral students in the Community College Leadership Cohort in the Higher Education Program on the basis of their academic merit, promise, and leadership. Recipients must be registered students in good academic standing in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $27,000) which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

Roxana Ng Memorial Scholarship in Equity

The Roxana Ng Memorial Scholarship in Equity was established in memory of Professor Roxana Ng. Roxana's extensive scholarship focused on race, gender, and class, immigrant women and garment workers, and embodied learning and decolonizing pedagogy. Generous donations have been made by students, colleagues, and friends, with matching funds provided by the University of Toronto. It will be awarded to one or more doctoral students in the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education, based on financial need with preference will be given to students pursuing research on a topic related to gender, race, immigration, and/or community development with a focus on work.

Recipients must be registered students in good academic standing during the 2024-2025 academic year and must have a demonstrated financial need based on the University’s criteria. 

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $10,000), which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

Ruth Hayhoe Xu Meide Scholarship Fund

The Ruth Hayhoe Xu Meide Scholarship was established by Ruth's students and colleagues in May of 2011, when they organized a conference at OISE in her honour titled "Education and Global Cultural Dialogue: A Tribute to Dr. Ruth Hayhoe". Generous donations have been made by students, colleagues, and friends in Canada and abroad, with matching funds provided by the University of Toronto. It will be awarded to one or more graduate students in the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education pursuing research on a topic related to China, based on academic merit, research focus, and the applicant's promise in terms of the contribution to the understanding of China and Canada-China educational relations. recipients must be registered students in good standing in the 2024-2025 academic year.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $9,800), which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

The Berta Vigil Laden Memorial Travel Fund

To be awarded to one or more students in the Higher Education Program in the Department of Leadership, Higher & Adult Education to attend the American Education Research Association Conference (AERA) or the Association for the Study of Higher Education Conference (ASHE) on the basis of good academic standing and academic merit. Preference will be given to first time applicants.

Applicants must be registered students in good academic standing (both at the time of application and at the time of the conference).

Awarded funding can only be used for specified conferences. Conference registration fees, transportation and accommodation costs are eligible for reimbursement. Meals are not eligible for reimbursement. Proof of attendance (e.g. attendance tag), original receipts (accommodation & transportation) and boarding passes will be required.

The value of this award is approximately $300.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

Virginia Griffin Scholarship

Established in memory of Virginia Griffin, this Scholarship will be awarded to one or more full-time graduate students in the Adult Education & Community Development program studying adult education and learning. The award will be made based on financial need and academic merit, and contribution to adult education and learning, with preference given to first-time applicants.

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $19,000) which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.

William G. Davis Graduate Student Fellowship in Community College Leadership

To be awarded to one or more Doctoral students in the Community College Leadership Cohort in the Higher Education Program on the basis of their academic merit and financial need.

Recipients must be registered students in good academic standing during the 2024-2025 academic year and must have demonstrated financial need based on the University’s criteria. 

The value of this award is based on the accrued annual income (approximately $37,400), which can be divided among multiple recipients. At the discretion of the Awards Committee, the value of each award will vary depending on endowment income and the number of recipients.

Subject to renewal of annual funding, this award is expected to be posted annually in September with a deadline in November.