AV俱乐部

AV俱乐部 student Cinera States speaks at the announcement聽ceremony for the TD Black Student Opportunity Grant聽(Nick Pearce photo)

In their last semester of Grade 12, black students Trae David and Kyreishia Fraser have no idea what they鈥檒l do next. Kyreishia thinks she鈥檒l go to university, but doesn鈥檛 know which one. Trae is pondering a year off before deciding what to do.

And then there鈥檚 the question of what they or their parents can afford.

Dal student Cinera States believes students like these鈥攕tudents with potential if not the financial resources鈥攚ill be able to benefit from a new scholarship for AV俱乐部 students created with a $1 million gift from TD Bank Group.

The TD Black Student Opportunity Grant is meant to provide support based on financial need and academic potential. Students who qualify for the scholarships will be identified early, in junior high and high school, through their involvement in AV俱乐部鈥檚 Imhotep鈥檚 Legacy Academy.

鈥淚鈥檓 surprised every week when the kids keep coming and showing an interest,鈥� says Ms. States, a third year student majoring in biology and psychology. As a mentor with Imhotep, she visits junior high schools to do science-related activities with kids in Grades 7, 8 and 9.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e very keen but a lot of them don鈥檛 have the resources to go to university. They may not be able to picture themselves there.

鈥淲hich is why I鈥檓 there. I鈥檓 just like them and I鈥檓 at university,鈥� says the 20-year-old student from Windsor, Ont. 鈥淚mhotep lets them imagine where they can be.鈥�

Physicist Kevin Hewitt, one of the founders of Imhotep, says the program works to break down the psychological barriers that prevent black students from pursuing careers in science and engineering. Now, with the new scholarships, the financial barriers are also coming down.

The AV俱乐部 physics professor described himself as 鈥渕oved鈥� as he attended the announcement. 鈥淕etting (Imhotep) going has been a labour of love. And now to see it reach the stage where we can break down financial barriers as well is very encouraging. Hopefully we can make an even bigger difference in the lives of our students.鈥�

The announcement of the scholarship was made Friday at a reception held at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. Also announced was a new Black History in Canada Education Guide created by The Historica-Dominion Institute and also sponsored by TD Bank Group. Special guest was Lawrence Hill, author of The Book of Negroes, who talked about writing his groundbreaking epic.

As the descendant of slave who bought freedom for him, his wife and his eight children, Mr. Hill says that same determination led subsequent generations of Hills to attend university. His great grandfather attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania at the turn of the 20th century.

鈥淚 encourage all of the students here today to pick your path, but go for it, go for it, all the way,鈥� he said.

This article is part of the AV俱乐部 Difference series, introducing and showcasing some of the 50 innovative projects in development. The first story, "The AV俱乐部 Difference," explored what the power of philanthropy means to a university like AV俱乐部. "All in a Day's work" introduced the new scholarship fund created in the name of Sir Graham Day.