New Scholarship Helps Improve Access to Post-Secondary Education

The Spanning the Gaps – Access to Post-Secondary Education program at The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education will now be able to reach even more people who might not have access to post-secondary education through a new scholarship that is funded by Toronto Raptors’ Chris Boucher.

The NBA basketball player’s donation enabled the creation of the new SlimmDuck Scholarship, which will offer assistance to one student each year for the next five years through Spanning the Gaps. The gift from Boucher’s SlimmDuck Foundation, which launched in October 2022, will open the door to university education for five students of Caribbean descent looking to realize their academic aspirations.

“The Spanning the Gaps program at The Chang School is honoured to be selected as the recipient of a gift from The SlimmDuck Foundation,” said Gary Hepburn, Dean of The Chang School, in a statement. “The scholarship will have a considerable impact on the lives of the student recipients. Together, we look forward to helping adult learners enhance their capacity to reach their educational goals.”

Giving Students a Shot at Success

The SlimmDuck Scholarship was created by Boucher to support students who identify as being of Caribbean descent and who intend to pursue a university degree but have gaps resulting in incomplete admission requirements for a traditional pathway into post-secondary education.

“Everyone deserves a chance, and even a second or third chance at an education and the increased opportunities it brings,” said Boucher, who plays forward for the Toronto Raptors, in the statement. “The SlimmDuck Scholarship was created as a way to give back to my community, boost representation in higher education and provide a launchpad for future success stories. The SlimmDuck Foundation is committed to helping students reach their academic goals by providing resources and removing barriers to education. This is a win for everyone.”

The scholarship will be available for students accepted into the Spanning the Gaps program to apply through TMU’s awards and scholarships platform beginning in August. Applications for the Spanning the Gaps - Transition Foundations Program, which gives students the skills and strategies to achieve success at university, are open year-round.

The SlimmDuck Scholarship represents a commitment to creating equity in access to higher education and aligns with the goals of The G. Raymond Chang School of Continuing Education to support increased student representation in post-secondary studies.

Find out more about Spanning the Gaps – Transition Foundations Program