African-Canadian Students Receive Prestigious BBPA National Scholarships

TORONTO, Oct. 20, 2021 /CNW/ - The BBPA National Scholarship Program announced 70 African Canadians from across Canada who will receive the 2021 BBPA National Scholarships, which provide financial assistance to Canadian students of African descent currently enrolled in post-secondary programs. Recipients were selected based on academic excellence, a demonstrated financial need, and recognized contributions to their communities.

The BBPA National Scholarship Fund will host the 2021 BBPA National Scholarships presentation ceremony on Thursday, October 21, 2021, using an online virtual format to ensure the health and safety of attendees during the ongoing pandemic. The Canadian Minster of Education will attend the event to celebrate the scholarship recipients.

"We are incredibly proud of our recipients this year and look forward to celebrating them at the awards ceremony later this month," said BBPA President Nadine Spencer shared. "The BBPA exists to serve Black businesses and entrepreneurs, and it is exciting for us to see this young, talented crop of aspiring businesspeople. We believe that they represent the future of our country and that they will play a major role in helping the economy recover after the debilitating events of the past year and a half. Having spent time with these young people and seen first- hand their passion, dedication, and abilities, I am confident that the future of the business community is in good hands."

For the first time this year, the BBPA National Scholarship Fund will feature automotive scholarships supported by Toyota Canada Foundation. This new award expands the reach of the scholarship program and will help raise awareness about this promising field of work for Black professionals.

"This is an extremely exciting time for the BBPA," says Scholarship Chair Ed Delsol. "As the economy continues to strengthen and new opportunities present themselves, the BBPA National Scholarship Fund is also expanding to make sure that young Black professionals can avail themselves of these opportunities and pursue career paths that leverage their skills and passions. As young people discover business opportunities that match with their natural interests and abilities, they will find new ways to thrive and succeed."

The Black Business and Professional Association established the BBPA National Scholarship Fund, formerly entitled "the BBPA Harry Jerome Scholarship Fund," in 1986. The BBPA National Scholarships are made possible through the contribution of generous sponsors and donors. Since the scholarship fund began, more than a thousand post-secondary students from Canada's Black community have been awarded scholarships.

Donors to the BBPA National Scholarship Program include: 

Christina Julian Ross Scholarship Canadian Public Relations Society Connor, Clark and Lunn Denham Jolly Foundation Flanagan Foundation Ned & Myrna Blair The Medina Morrisey Foundation The Minerva Scholarship, Dr. Rossi The Dentons Canada Scholarship

Ontario Ministry of Education Ontario Power Generation Ojo, Andrew & Remi Shaker Hill Foundation PepsiCo TD Bank Toyota Canada Foundation

The 2021 BBPA National Scholarships recipients are:

Aidan Chin Aisling Martins-Ezeifeaku Alain Humura Amanda Owusu Amani Hitimana Amara Phillips Anne Moreau Beraki Abraha Brandon Pierre Bunisha Samuels Carmynn Skalnik Chinonso Ekeanyanwu Cornelius Owusu Daeja Sutherland Dana Pitcher Dejano Duncan Destiny Pfeiffer-Faulk Eboni Branch Emmanuel Adegboyega Gabrielle Dume Giavanna Clarke-Jolly Glory Kabarungyi Mulera Haneef Amusat Hanna Warsame

Hephzibah Ali Hilda-Matilda Idegwu Husoni Raymond Ilhan Yusuf Janyah Brown Jedi Amoako Jessica Agbolade Joseph Oladimeji Joshua Campbell Julianah Oguntala Justin Joseph Kwasi Adu-Poku Lathania Lewis Leonardo Moodley Lucas McDonald Miles Leslie Miracle Anderson Mudiwa Mawoka Na'Shantea Miller Naa-Adjoa Taylor Nicole Franklin Nicole Mfoafo-M'Carthy Oluwatobi Falana Omar Hassan

Praise Erianamie Rahma Osman Rotimi Fadiya Rudolph Damas Salem Aaron Shadae Daniels Shade Edwards Shantel Watson Sidney Idemudia Soliyana Yared Stacey Newman Stephanie Henry Sydney Hussett Taejah Noble Thador Tekhli Trynton Fisher Tyler Stone Venassa Baptiste Victoria Byrne Vincent Bisasor Yasmin Dini Zanira Ali Zachary Brown

About the Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA):
Founded in 1983, the BBPA is a charitable organization whose mission is to advance Canada's Black community by facilitating the delivery of programs that support business and professional excellence, higher education, and economic development. Along with the BBPA National Scholarships, the BBPA presents the Annual Harry Jerome Awards, the National Black Business Convention (NBBPC), and workshops and programs at the BBPA Centre of Excellence. 

SOURCE Black Business and Professional Association

please visit the BBPA online at www.bbpa.org, call 416-504-4097, or email [email protected].