Scholarships allow more time for family and study

Help provide more opportunities for students to succeed on Giving Day, Nov. 29

In 2021, Mount Royal University held its inaugural Giving Day, a 24-hour campaign focusing efforts on raising critical funds for current and future students, providing support in and out of the classroom.

This year’s Giving Day will take place on Nov. 29, and offer several fun challenges in which to take part.

“Giving Day is when we shine a light on philanthropy within our own community and how any gift — large or small — can make a difference,” says MRU president and vice-chancellor Tim Rahilly, PhD. “Last year, 671 donors raised $262,646.86, of which $107,000 went towards student awards. Those are funds that provide immediate relief to students.”

Sixty years of graduates gave on Giving Day 2021, representing every decade from the 1950s to the 2020s. Cougar Athletics, the MRU Conservatory and everything in between received support from generous donors.

The impact of a gift

Jona Sparvier
Recipient of the David G. Tallman Memorial Scholarship

 

Jona Sparvier is a working mom of three studying social work full time at MRU. Upon receiving the David G. Tallman Memorial Scholarship, Sparvier says she achieved a 4.0 GPA for the first time.

“I think that can be attributed to not having to work full time. I run a home-based business, so I was able to kind of put that to the side for a minute just so I could be at home and I had that extra time to study, which was very helpful.”

Growing up, Sparvier says she didn’t put a lot of emphasis on school. Now that she’s at MRU, her opinions have changed

“Now, I love school.”

Sparvier credits the award with allowing her to spend more time with her family and studying, thanks to not having to work as much. Additionally, it has motivated her to continue her education.

“The world opens up more, the more I learn, and I just want to keep going.”

For Giving Day 2022, students have identified mental health and wellness and student awards and bursaries as their priority areas of need. A major goal for this year is to grow MRU’s scholarship endowment to $50 million from its current status of $47.5 million. In addition, as part of MRU’s drive to meet the growing and evolving needs of students and to align with the post-secondary sector on scholarship supports, donors and alumni have contributed more than  $5,000 to go towards work being done by MRU as guided by the Suicide Prevention Strategic Framework.

There are a million reasons to give. What’s yours?