“Tci migwetc [big thank-you]. Thank you so much for the relief this bursary provides me. I truly can’t thank you enough.”
These are the words of Mars (Maritza Ayala-Spence), a third-year Trinity student whose journey from high school dropout to determined student was made possible in part by the generosity of Trinity donors.
Born to an immigrant/protected citizen and an Indigenous Mushkegowuk woman, and a registered member of Fort Albany First Nation (Treaty 9 territory), Mars once believed that university was out of reach. But today, she’s majoring in Women & Gender Studies, with a double minor in Indigenous Studies and Sociology — and preparing to pursue a Master of Social Work to work specifically with Indigenous women, femmes, two-spirit individuals and children.
For Mars, her U of T journey started with the Transition Year Programme, an in-person, full-time, eight-month access-to-university program for adults who do not have the formal qualifications for university admission. Now she’s in the middle of her undergraduate studies at Trinity. Despite her course load, she makes time to give back, serving on the executive of the Indigenous Students’ Association on campus last year. Receiving bursary support has enabled Mars to continue to focus on her studies without having to worry about making ends meet.
Stories like Mars’s are exactly why donors like Louise James ’95 chose to support BIPOC bursaries through her leadership gift. For Louise, now a lawyer who serves on the Trinity College Board of Trustees, supporting bursaries is an important way to ensure that Trinity can attract the brightest learners from all backgrounds.
“There are so many bright, hard-working young people who deserve to learn here and who have so much to offer to the Trinity community. Together, we can lower financial barriers, especially for diverse students.” — Louise James ’95
Your support helps open doors for students like Mars — ensuring they have the freedom to learn, lead, and give back to their communities. Thank you!
