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Donors and scholarship winners mingle 

Several new awards inducted at reception

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More than 400 donors and student award recipients greeted one another March 26 at Concordia’s Donor and Student Excellence Recognition Cocktail at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in downtown Montreal.

The annual event allows for scholarship recipients to personally thank their benefactors, as well as for the induction of undergraduate and graduate awards.

The ceremony began with a video that showcased student award recipients who provided testimonials about how the funding helped them thrive academically and get involved in both on- and off-campus extracurricular activities.

Kathy Assayag, Vice-President, Advancement and Alumni Relations, said benefactors are integral to Concordia’s success because they help the university attract and retain talented graduate and undergraduate students.

“[As our benefactors], you recognize and understand the important role that our students and higher education play in our society’s economic prosperity and well-being. You’re also an intrinsic part of the intellectual capital of Concordia. But most importantly, you believe in this university’s potential for greatness,” said Assayag, who served as master of ceremonies.

President Judith Woodsworth echoed Assayag’s sentiments, adding that “It takes a caring community to nurture and support our students and much of our motivation is inspired by the compassion we see in our donors.”

Louise Dandurand, Vice-President, Research and Graduate Studies, talked about the importance of private funding. “As critical as leading-edge infrastructure is to a research and teaching community, the success of a comprehensive university is the active engagement of promising students passionate about their studies. Researchers rely on you, the graduate students, to work alongside them, on the road to discovery; and it is through financial support that Concordia is able to attract the brightest and most promising students who are preparing to make their own contributions to society,” said Dandurand. She then inducted the graduate awards, including those from TD Bank Financial Group.

Concordia alumnus Michael D’Ambra (BComm 75 Honours Economics), who serves as the TD Bank Financial Group’s VP Private Client Services, spoke about why the financial institution chose to create scholarships and fellowships in business education with a donation of $500 000 that was announced last October.

“This contribution will help students pursue their studies over the next few years without having to worry too much about their finances. For TD Bank Financial Group, access to higher education is integral to building a solid future and realizing one’s dreams,” said D’Ambra, who added he was pleased to meet three award recipients: Heather Bar-Or (PhD Business Administration), Adam Levitt (MBA), and Prathima Muralidhara (MBA).

Director of Recreation and Athletics Katie Sheahan, who filled in for Roger Côté, Associate Vice-President Enrolment, was on hand to induct the undergraduate awards.

Haley Toll (BFA Studio Arts) praised her benefactors for setting up the Campaign for the New Millennium Student Contribution Scholarship. “It’s an incredible privilege, not just for expensive art supplies it affords me to buy, to create the works I envision, but because it shows that someone recognizes all the hard work that goes into it. Concordia certainly takes care of its own,” said Toll who is graduating this summer.