In an academic year like no other, York University students faced a mix of distinct challenges as they worked to achieve their educational and life goals.
Pandemic safety restrictions radically reorganized their lives, requiring them to navigate a new terrain of virtual learning, without the rich experiences and community connections of campus life. Of course, they have also experienced the broader human toll of COVID-19, including loss of loved ones, isolation, financial hardship and mental health issues.
The adversities facing York students have not gone unnoticed by Stong and Calumet colleges, which represent students in Faculty of Health programs. As a way to knowledge the particularly difficult circumstances they have endured and lend a helping hand, both colleges have introduced new financial awards for student.
The new awards will help students who, despite the obstacles raised by the pandemic, have stayed engaged with their college. Each college has directed $25,000 to establish endowments that will fund the new student awards in perpetuity. They also provided funding to activate the awards now, while the endowment fund accrues interest for the awards. For both awards, applicants must submit a personal statement on their contributions to their college, and a letter of support from a student, staff, faculty, alum or fellow.
“COVID had a big impact on our community, and what we noticed is that we still have a lot of people who, even though they were going through hard times, are making a great effort to stay connected and are passionate about our community and keeping it going. We wanted a way to say thank you to them,” says Daniel Farina, student council president at Stong, which serves approximately 5,800 students enrolled in the Nursing and Kinesiology & Health Science programs.
With its Heart of a Spartan Award, Stong is acknowledging students who stayed been engaged in and positively impacted student life at the college. College events have taken place entirely online through game shows, movie nights and trivia, and Farina says some students have consistently joined in the virtual fun. Previously, Stong awarded four students $250 each during 2020-21; with the new award, Stong will bestow two students with $500 each next spring.
Calumet, which serves more than 7,000 students in the Global Health Program, School of Health Policy and Management and the Department of Psychology, create the Student Life Award, which recognizes someone who has shown leadership and been an active participant in the college community. The first recipient of this $1,000 award will be determined next spring.
Current Calumet council president Ronnie O’Connor says the college’s own online events this academic year—game nights, socials, panel discussions—have likewise attracted some steady followers. He and his fellow council members are pleased to be able to formally acknowledge one of these individuals.
“We know that the pandemic has been very hard for some students, and everyone has been experiencing some sort of financial difficulty,” says Calumet council president Ronnie O’Connor, who began prioritizing the idea the previous year when he served as vice-president of finance. “We wanted to recognize students for their presence and their leadership in our community.”
