By Norm Nelson

March 7, 2022

RBC last month announced the first 20 recipients of its RBC Future Launch Scholarship for Black Youth, a program designed to serve the unique needs of young Black Canadians navigating and preparing for the future of work.

Informed by the insights and lived experiences of academic, business and non-profit leaders from the communities that it serves, RBC said its scholarship is awarded to youth who identify as Black (ages 15 to 29) who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or refugees entering Grade 11 or 12 or who are enrolled in post-secondary education for the upcoming year.

The scholarship is valued at up to $10,000 per year, for up to four years, and must be allocated to fund tuition and other academic/life expenses.

Through an advisory committee of Black academics and youth-serving leaders, RBC said the scholarship was created by the community, for the community — ensuring it will meet the needs of the young people it is meant to support. Eligible students were nominated by one of 12 participating community partner organizations.

Nominated students were evaluated by a selection committee comprised of Black leaders from academic, business and non-profit backgrounds.

Students awarded the scholarship funding will also receive access to additional resources in the form of mentorship, academic and career planning, tutoring and internship/networking opportunities.

Here’s a look at the inaugural recipients from Toronto.

SARAH KYDD

A STEM-loving high school student and a proud Somali Canadian and Muslim, Sarah Kydd is currently the head of Monarch Park Collegiate’s Afro-Canadian club. She is also a peer mentor for Grade 9 and 10 students in the Pre-IB program, where she supports the students’ success in the rigorous IB program by developing workshops and sharing learnings.

EGHEMEN EHIAGWINA

A 20-year-old second-year undergraduate student enrolled in the financial and business economics program at York University, Eghemen Ehiagwina’s passion for economics stems from her experiences in her home country, Nigeria, which led to her being selected for the Black Scholars Mentorship Program.

In her spare time, she loves to make videos of herself talking about topical issues, particularly regarding racism, unequal resource allocation and global climate change, with the hopes of educating others and fostering dialogue. She also loves to read novels by her favorite author, Chimamanda Ngozi Adiche.

JABARI GAYLE

A Grade 10 student of St. Basil-The-Great College School, Jabari Gayle’s passions include athletics, science and business, and he hopes to evolve his passions into post-secondary studies majoring in kinesiology, physics or business management, with a minor in French. Currently enrolled in the International Baccalaureate program, he has been a participant in Frontlines since the age of six and has enjoyed being part of the So You Think You Can Cook program, homework club and the summer camps. He has an interest in creating a peer-led group for Black youth to share their feelings and thoughts in a safe space with peer support. The group would strive to help others who are trying to navigate challenges in life.

JENELL PARKES

Although she lost her job during the pandemic, this presented an opportunity for Jenell Parkes, a Scarborough single mother of two, to focus on her career goals, and was the much-needed push to follow her dreams. She aspires to become a nurse practitioner, eventually opening her own practice to help the youth and families in her community.

MARQUES MCLEAN-ROBINSON

Passionate about the sciences with a particular focus in chemistry and quantum physics, Marques McLean-Robinson hopes to use the knowledge he gains in his academic career to build up his community. The Toronto resident joined STEM-based programming at Visions of Science when he was eight years old and has grown up to become a senior participant in their STEM Leaders program.

SARAPHINA KNIGHTS

A Grade 12 student at the Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts in Scarborough, Saraphina Knights is an aspiring musical producer and songwriter, with her first music single in 2021 called “Amorality.” Knights is a member of the YMCA of Greater Toronto Black Achievers Program, and in her spare time she loves writing songs, producing music and hanging out with her friends and family.

Source: Scarborough The Mirror

2022 Award Recipients

• Ayana Monuma
  Ste-Therese, QC
  Youth Stars Foundation
• Imani Murray
  Edmonton, AB
  ELITE Program (UAlberta)
• Mona Zewdie
  Calgary, AB
  Council of Canadians of African & Caribbean Heritage
• Jonathan Afowork
  Edmonton, AB
  ELITE Program (UAlberta)
• Jermima Okanlawon
  Calgary, AB
  ELITE Program (UAlberta)
• Jaiden Shelton Bell
  Roxboro, QC
  Youth Stars Foundation
• Jabari Gayle
  Toronto, ON
  Frontlines
• Jenell Parkes
  Scarborough, ON
  CEE Centre for Black Professionals
• Eghemen Ehiagwina
  North York, ON
  CEE Centre for Black Professionals
• Fumni Olowe
  Ile Perrot, QC
  YMCA of Montreal
• Marques McLean-Robinson
  Toronto, ON
  Visions of Science
• Maryam Ali
  Edmonton, AB
  ELITE Program (UAlberta)
• Saraphina Knights
  Scarborough, ON
  YMCA of Greater Toronto
• Sara Kydd
  Toronto, ON
  Visions of Science
• Adetayo Adediran
  Calgary, AB
  YMCA of Calgary
• Orlane Ndeugueu
  Edmonton, AB
  Council of Canadians of African & Caribbean Heritage
• Tioluwani Oladele
  Winnipeg, MB
  YMCA of Winnipeg
• Rachel Phiri
  Oshawa, ON
  DESTA Black Youth Network
• Seth Skinner
  Middle Sackville, NS
  Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute
• Hibaq Saleh
  Ottawa, ON
  The Center for Resilience and Social Development

Source: RBC