York University is awarding three scholarships – valued at $10,000 each – in honour of the students lost in the tragic plane crash of Ukrainian International Airlines Flight 752 that occurred near Tehran, Iran on Jan. 8, 2020.
On Jan. 16, Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the Ontario Remembrance Scholarships initiative to honour the victims of the crash. Canada and the world were shaken by this tragedy, which claimed the lives of 57 Canadians, with 34 victims employed at or studying in universities and colleges in Ontario.
Among those lost in the crash were three York University students:
- Sadaf Hajiaghavand, an upper-year student in York’s Bachelor of Human Rights Management program;
- Pegah Safar Poor Koloor, a first-year Faculty of Science student, studying biology;
- Masoud Shaterpour Khiaban, who was about to begin his studies in the Post-Graduate Certificate in Business Administration program at the School of Continuing Studies.
In remembrance of the victims and to commemorate the talent that has been lost, Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities has provided York University with $30,000 to award three dedicated scholarships for the 2020-21 academic year, valued at $10,000 each. Both domestic and international students are eligible for this scholarship.
One scholarship will be awarded to a student in the Bachelor of Human Resources program in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies, one to a student majoring in biology in the Faculty of Science, and one will be awarded to an undergraduate student who successfully completed the York University English Language program in the School of Continuing Studies.
To be eligible for consideration, students must be pursuing an undergraduate degree on a full-time or part-time basis during the 2020-21 academic year; have demonstrated financial need and academic merit; and have a demonstrated commitment to community service and volunteerism.
Scholarship recipients will be selected and notified in January 2021, which marks the one-year anniversary of the crash. Where possible, families of victims of this tragedy will be notified of the scholarship received in honour of their loved one(s).
More information about the Ontario Remembrance Scholarship program is available online.
By Karen Warner, Manager, Scholarships and Bursaries, Division of Students, York University, kwarner@yorku.ca