The Tom Janes Award for Black Scholars awarded $5,000 to 10 first-year Black students who are enrolled in a Liberal Arts & Professional Studies (LA&PS) program.
Lem and Karen Janes are pleased to offer the award in memory of Tom Janes, Lem's late brother, business partner and best friend. “We wanted to financially support Black scholars as a way of continuing a positive legacy for my brother Tom Janes,” says Lem Janes. “Karen and I see this as a fitting tribute because we know education plays such a positive role in the development of students and their families.”
The recipients were selected by the Advisory Committee to the Special Advisor on the Faculty of LA&PS’ Anti-Black Racism Strategy, led by Special Advisor and Associate Professor Andrea Davis.
“In establishing an award that will support students over three years of their academic journey, LA&PS and the Janes family will have a meaningful and sustainable impact on the lives of ten of our top Black students,” says Davis. “Rather than supporting them for one year and then having them figure out the rest of their academic trajectory on their own, this is a commitment to their long-term success, which is so important for students who have faced educational and social barriers their whole lives."
The 2021 recipients of the award include the following LA&PS first-year students:
Awwal Ayila Abass
Law and Society
“This award will have a significant impact on my studies helping me reach for my dream to become a lawyer. For an enthusiastic student like me, who comes from a family where it’s hard to pursue an education, this is a promise of a brighter future,” says Abass.
Muntaha Jamal Ahmed
Speech and Language Sciences
“This award is not only a reflection of my hard work but also of the kindness and generosity of those who created it, I want to become a speech-language pathologist and this award has helped lift the financial burden,” says Ahmed.
Isatu Lamarana Barrie
Political Science
“I want to be a leader for the youth in my community and this award is helping me reach my career goal of becoming a criminal lawyer,” says Barrie.
Clifton Grant
Law and Society
“When I made the decision to return to university after a 26-year hiatus, I never imagined that this journey would bring me such esteemed recognition. I am beyond humbled to be one of the Tom Janes Memorial Scholarship Fund recipients," says Grant. Grant plans to pursue a legal career and serve underrepresented Black communities across Canada while inspiring and uplifting future Black scholars and leaders.
Jasmine Christine Heath
Financial and Business Economics
“As a Black scholar, I thrive to be a role model for others encouraging them not to give up even when times get rough. I aim to create change in the Black community,” says Heath.
Favour Kayode
Health and Society
“With this award, I will be able to continue my studies and pursue a career in the healthcare field to support individuals who need access to healthcare resources,” says Kayode.
Joshua Mezgebo
Financial and Business Economics
"I am greatly honoured to be the recipient of the Tom Janes Award for Black Scholars. I am extremely grateful for this opportunity and send my utmost thanks to the donor. Receiving this award has been a great blessing as it has given me the opportunity to thrive with such support. It has enabled me to overcome all the personal, financial, and social barriers I face day-to-day. This will motivate me to be the best black scholar I could possibly be,” says Mezgebo.
Keziah Umar Samson
Social Work
“This is my first year as an undergraduate student and it has been overwhelming especially with the financial stress added, but this award has substantially lessened my worries,” says Samson.
Tigist Yehualawork Solomon
Bachelor of Commerce
“My parents immigrated to Canada in the '90s to make a change for themselves but couldn’t go on to post-secondary education themselves. Receiving this award has prompted me to work harder and dedicate my time to completing my studies,” says Solomon.
Hiba Yasin
Law and Society
“As a first-year student during this unprecedented time, this award has helped me realize how lucky I am to be pursuing post-secondary education,” says Yasin.
The Tom Janes Award for Black Scholars was one of six new donor-funded awards for Black students announced by LA&PS’ Advancement team last year. More information about the student application processes for these awards will be posted on the LA&PS Awards Search website.
In addition to the Tom Janes Award for Black Scholars, the Tom Janes Memorial Scholarship is also funded by the Janes family and is awarded to full-time undergraduate students entering their first year at York University. To honour Tom Janes, the family set up a scholarship in his name to promote higher education by financially assisting family members of past and current employees of Janes Family Foods achieve their educational goals.