MRU student and alum earn prestigious McCall MacBain scholarships
Mount Royal University student Del Coburn and alumnus Thomas Tri have been recognized with McCall MacBain Regional Awards for their leadership, community involvement and academic success.
Coburn, a sociology student set to graduate in 2025, and Tri, a 2022 social work diploma graduate now studying at the University of Calgary, are among 93 students selected from a pool of approximately 700 applicants across Canada. The award comes with $5,000 in funding toward their graduate studies.
“When our students are recognized nationally, it highlights the quality of education and excellence fostered at MRU,” said Cyndi Cave, assistant registrar, awards. “These achievements enhance our reputation and build pride within our community.”
Del Coburn
For Coburn, this recognition marks a pivotal moment in their academic journey. They describe the experience as "a bit like being discovered by a major record label while performing at a coffee shop open mic."
University can sometimes feel like simply going through the motions, making it easy to forget that education is also a place for personal growth, Del explains. "The undergraduate environment is where we learn how to articulate our ideas and lived experiences, finding value beyond ourselves as we discover our passions and how to apply them to the world."
Admitted to the University of Toronto's master’s program in sociology, Coburn plans to expand on their honours thesis research, which examines society's engagement with technology and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence.
Beyond academics, Coburn has a long history of community engagement. They dedicated nearly a decade to serving others in healthcare, training as a paramedic at SAIT and working with Alberta Health Services as a community peace officer. As events director for Elder Song YYC, Coburn helped celebrate the artistic contributions of older Calgarians, guiding the festival’s transition online during the COVID-19 pandemic and incorporating Elder Song as a non-profit. They also work with The Whole Dyslexic Society and consult for various non-profits.
MRU’s Office of the Registrar was proud to endorse Coburn’s application. "Del is a compelling and well-rounded individual, as is evident by their commitment to their studies in sociology and active involvement in the community," Cave said.
Thomas Tri
Tri, currently completing his bachelor's degree in social work at the University of Calgary, has made a lasting impact both on campus and in the community. At the U of C, he served as co-president of the Global Development Society and worked on food security initiatives as part of the student union’s equity, diversity and inclusion task force.
Dedicated to improving access to education, Tri is director of public relations for the EquaLearn Foundation, supporting immigrant and refugee students in overcoming barriers to learning. He also lends his voice to Plan International Canada as a youth advisor, working on projects that address social issues across the country. His dedication to advocacy and student leadership earned him MRU’s Outstanding Student of the Year Award in 2022.
“I feel very honoured to have received the Regional Award among students who are inspiring leaders, driven by their service to the community and demonstrating intellectual curiosity and excellence,” Tri said. “This award is an important step in my next journey as I pursue my Master of Social Work at York University in fall 2025 and, eventually, my PhD.”
“I owe a lot of this achievement to my foundation at MRU's diploma in social work, where I was able to engage in equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives and learn from wonderful professors who catalyzed my passion for social justice,” he added.
About the awards
The McCall MacBain Scholarship, established in 2019 through a generous $200-million donation from John and Marcy McCall MacBain — the largest single gift in Canadian history at the time — supports students pursuing full-time master’s or professional degrees at public universities across Canada. Recipients are selected for their academic achievements, leadership potential and commitment to service.
Applications for the next round of McCall MacBain Scholarships open in June 2025. More information is available at mccallmacbainscholars.org.