At Teachers Life, supporting our valued Members and their loved ones is one of our core objectives. Our annual Scholarship Awards Program is just one of the ways that we give back to our Members in a meaningful and long-lasting way. To date, we’ve invested over $500,000 in scholarships and bursaries for the families of our Teachers Life Members.
As an insurer dedicated to those who work in education, these awards are a flagship of our Fraternal Benefits Program. This year, we have the pleasure of recognizing 11 exceptional individuals with the Teachers Life Bursary, the J.F. Allen Scholarship, and the Hall & Hall Award. Recipients of these scholarships and bursaries are selected by random draw among all qualified applicants.
The 2023 Teachers Life Bursary Recipients
The Teachers Life Bursaries
The Teachers Life Bursaries are given to students based on their extracurricular activities and ability to maintain a 70 to 80% grade average. This year’s six outstanding student recipients include: Nathaniel Yarmol-Matusiak, Matthew Leavitt, Jenna Tarasco, Marin Van Wagner, Ian Cretney, and Dillon Simmons.
All recipients have demonstrated what we consider well-rounded excellence in both academic and extracurricular activities while maintaining an above 80% grade average.
We are proud to support the inspiring and diverse educational pathways of our award recipients. Following a degree in psychology, Marin looks forward to one day becoming a licensed psychologist to support those who are struggling. Pursuing skill-based programs, such as Firefighting and Electrical Contracting, Matthew and Nathaniel emphasize the value in Canadian trades. Nathaniel says the Teachers Life Bursary Award will assist him in completing a 1-year certificate program in electrical techniques at Humber College by covering educational costs such as tuition, tools, and books. Following Nathaniel’s completion of the program, he hopes to pursue a 5-year apprenticeship to become a certified electrician and contribute to building physical infrastructure in Canada.
Many of this year’s award recipients, including Jenna and Dillon, describe how this award will support their pursuit of becoming a teacher. Jenna expresses her excitement to enter a new environment in post-secondary education and learn new material while making life-long connections. She hopes to inspire students to find their passion in education, just as her elementary and secondary teachers have done for her. Similarly, at the University of Ottawa, Dillon hopes to inspire future students to achieve their own goals and academic interests.
The 2023 J.F. Allen Scholarship Recipients
The J.F. Allen Scholarship
The J.F. Allen Scholarship is awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence, extracurricular achievement and a deep connection to their schools and communities. The scholarship is for up to 4 years of post-secondary education. This year’s four J.F. Allen Scholarship recipients are: Jack Nikita, Christian Verghis, Simona Brezeanu, and Sophia De Graaf.
With aspirations to develop computer software to help students with their educational needs, Jack describes his excitement to work with like-minded people who will encourage and challenge him in the computer science program at the University of Windsor.
Inspired by his high school robotics team, Christian is attending McMaster University to pursue a computer science program as well. Like all our incredible recipients, both Christian and Sophia, who are attending the University of Waterloo for architecture, emphasize their motivation for post-secondary education. They mention their excitement to improve industry-specific skills, follow their academic passions, and foster relationships with like-minded peers.
Scholarship recipient, Simona, draws on her strong interest in medical science following high school courses and witnessing the devastating impact of the pandemic to pursue healthcare work. She highlights the value and necessity of frontline healthcare workers and eagerly hopes to join the brave and selfless work.
The Hall & Hall Education Award
We’ve supported those who work in the education community since 1939. The Hall & Hall Education Award is offered to one individual who will be graduating from university and entering final year(s) of a concurrent Faculty of Education Degree Program. The recipient of this award must exhibit the drive and determination that all good educators have. We are proud to announce Brynnley Koene as this year’s Hall & Hall Education Award recipient.
The 2023 Hall and Hall Award Recipient
With plans to attend teachers’ college at the University of Western Ontario and work towards a career in teaching in British Columbia, Brynnley describes looking forward to meeting new people and the many new experiences that accompany post-secondary education. Inspired by friends and family, Brynnley continues to strive for greatness and make a positive impact.
Looking to The Bright Futures Ahead
Despite differing aspirations and post-secondary programs, all 11 scholarship and award recipients share an incredible drive and passion for continuous learning, with a common goal to make a positive difference across Canada. Congratulations to the 2023 phenomenal scholarship and bursary award recipients! We look forward to following your inspiring educational experiences and watching you support our Teachers Life community in valuable ways.
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