Audrey Lawrence Comes Full Circle with New AC Online Bursary

Posted on Wednesday, May 5th, 2021

When Algonquin College Board of Governor’s member, Audrey Lawrence, was a young woman attending teachers’ college, she received a bursary that changed her life. Now, she is returning that long ago favour by establishing a new bursary in her own name.

The Audrey Lawrence AC Online Bursary, which will be awarded to full-time and part-time learners in financial need, is being established thanks to a generous gift of over $15,000 from Lawrence.

The bursary, which was announced this week, is one of the first of its kind in Ontario and represents five separate bursaries. Two $6,000 bursaries will benefit full-time learners, with one preferably directed toward an Indigenous student. Three $1,000 bursaries will also be awarded to part-time students.

Lawrence, who is of Cree and Inuit ancestry, has served in leadership positions in a number of national, provincial, and local organizations involved with organizational development or policy issues affecting Aboriginal communities.

“A lot of people think First Nations students on reserve have access to funding, but many Indigenous students have zero funding, including those living off-reserve and Métis. That’s why I wanted to have a bursary for an Indigenous student who might need it,” said Lawrence.

“I also like the fact the bursary is open to anyone, including International students. I know for many of them it is a struggle, and many of them are here on their own. It can be hard to find a job and Canada is an expensive country to study in.”

Lawrence knows first-hand what it means to receive a bursary and have it change your life. As a young woman attending teachers’ college, she applied for and received a bursary to support her first year’s tuition.

“I was so thankful. Everything I was doing was on my own dime. When this letter arrived with a cheque, I was down to my last apple. I was just so thrilled that I was actually going to be able to go to the store and buy some real meat,” said Lawrence.

She also knows the value of remote learning, having pursued her university degree through correspondence courses while balancing being a mom and full-time teacher.

“As I went on through my teaching career, I had to finish my degree through correspondence, the early version of remote learning. I was teaching full-time, married and I had a cranky baby to care for and I was writing essays late at night trying to get through university. I am very empathetic to distance learners,” she said.

Lawrence is hoping that she can inspire others to set up bursaries at the College, particularly those who have the financial means and are looking for an opportunity to lend their support.
“For me it was such a great godsend to have received that support. That memory has stayed in my mind. To be able to finish the circle is a wonderful opportunity for me,” she said.

Applications for the Audrey Lawrence AC Online Bursary will open in this Fall. To join Audrey in supporting AC Online students, please check this link:
https://www.algonquincollege.com/advancement/audrey-lawrence-ac-online-bursary/


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