TORONTO – June 7, 2024 – Top Hat, the leader in student engagement solutions for higher education, is proud to announce that four exceptional First Nations students have been awarded this year’s Shannen’s Dream Scholarship. Launched in 2022 by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society with the support of Top Hat and the Collure Family of Richmond Hill, ON, each recipient will receive $10,000 to support their pursuit of a post-secondary education.
“We are truly inspired by this year’s Shannen’s Dream Scholarship recipients, both in terms of their academic achievements and as volunteers and agents of change within their communities,” said Maggie Leen, CEO of Top Hat. “As future leaders, doctors, scientists, and educators, they exemplify what’s possible when dedicated individuals have access to the benefits of higher education.”
The Scholarship is named in honor of Shannen Koostachin, a courageous young leader from Attawapiskat First Nation who inspired a national movement to establish safe and comfortable schools for First Nations students. What makes the Shannen’s Dream Scholarship particularly special is the ‘pay-it-forward’ component, which requires recipients to make a measurable contribution to the Shannen’s Dream campaign or related First Nations initiative.
“Our scholarship recipients are honoring Shannen’s legacy through their leadership, their community contributions and their academic achievements,” said Cindy Blackstock, Executive Director of the Caring Society. “We are grateful to Top Hat and the Collure Family for their support and for sharing our conviction that a more equitable and just society rests on ensuring First Nations students are able to pursue their dreams of a high quality education.”
Meet the 2024 Shannen’s Dream Scholarship Recipients
Aleria McKay was raised on Six Nations of the Grand River and is completing her Bachelor of Education at York’s Waaban Indigenous Teacher Education Program. A poet, playwright and educator, this fall she will start her Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing at the University of British Columbia.
Jaimey Jacobs is Ojibwe and a band member of the Walpole Island First Nation. A first year medical student at the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry at Western University, Jaimey is a passionate advocate for Indigenous healthcare and supporting Indigenous youth in navigating educational opportunities within the healthcare profession.
Rainbird Daniels is Plains Cree, Yankton Sioux, and Dakota from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation. She is pursuing a degree in Psychology at York University in Toronto where she also serves as the President of the Indigenous Student Association. As an Indigenous Languages Specialist at the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Languages, she is deeply committed to promoting cultural awareness and advancing human rights.
Taylor Nicholls is from the Wahnapitae First Nation and is pursuing a Master’s of Science in Biology at Laurentian University. Her thesis involves assessing various environmental contaminants in fish the Wahnapitae First Nation relies on as a traditional food source. Taylor is an ardent environmentalist whose research involves weaving Western science, citizen science, and traditional ecological knowledge.
About Shannen’s Dream Scholarship
The Shannen’s Dream Scholarship was established to assist First Nations youth with the financial burdens of post-secondary education. The scholarship honors Shannen Koostachin, whose advocacy for safe and comfortable schools for First Nations students ignited a nationwide movement. This scholarship aims to continue her legacy by empowering First Nations students to achieve their educational aspirations. To learn more, please visit www.fncaringsociety.com.
About Top Hat
As the leader in student engagement solutions for higher education, Top Hat enables educators to employ evidence-based teaching practices through interactive content, tools, and activities in in-person, online and hybrid classroom environments. Thousands of faculty at 750 leading North American colleges and universities use Top Hat to create meaningful, engaging and accessible learning experiences for students before, during, and after class. To learn more, please visit tophat.com.