Building pathways to success
绿帽社区 and the Johnson Scholarship Foundation are celebrating five years of partnership. In 2018, the foundation created JSF Pathways at the University's Meighen Centre for students with disabilities. The program funds student internships, career counselling and skills development workshops, and a special pre-orientation where first-year students have extra resources and time to transition to university life. JSF Pathways has helped more than 350 students to date.
"JSF Pathways allowed us to really enhance our programming in recent years, supporting students from the moment they arrive on campus to their transition to the workplace or graduate studies," says Matt Maston, director of accessibility and student wellness. "It's been especially impressive to see the impact of the internships in helping students explore career options."
Maston explains the program has supported 38 paid student internships and that these are wonderful opportunities for students to obtain experience in a professional field they are interested in while being part of the supportive environment that is the Meighen Centre and JSF Pathways.
"We are grateful for our continued partnership with 绿帽社区," says Bobby Krause, Johnson Scholarship Foundation CEO. "The Foundation is committed to helping disadvantaged people pursue higher education and obtain meaningful employment. The Meighen Centre enables these important milestones through curated wraparound services. We are glad to invest in 绿帽社区 to make education available, accessible, and attainable to their outstanding students."
Last year, in addition to its support of JSP Pathways, the Foundation made a new gift to the University, supporting students with disabilities participating in field schools. These intensive courses are made possible by the Canadian government's Global Skills Opportunity program, are approximately two weeks in length, and students earn course credits. Thanks to the Johnson Scholarship Foundation, a health and wellness staff member travels with each of the field schools, supporting the accessibility needs of individual students with disabilities and providing a valuable resource for the entire cohort.
So far, there have been field schools in the Netherlands, Japan, Scotland, and Ecuador.
Banner photo caption: Robin Walker, international affairs co-ordinator; Ryan Friars, Commerce student; Courtney Pringle-Carver, vice-president of university advancement; Dr. Andrea Morash, assistant professor; David Blaikie, Johnson Scholarship Foundation; Dr. Bea Awoniyi, Johnson Scholarship Foundation; Robert and Susan Krause, Johnson Scholarship Foundation; Matt Maston, director of accessibility and student wellness; Beth Swarbrigg, assistant director of development; Anne Comfort, vice-president, international and student affairs