Toward the end of her life, Mary McIntosh was done with gifts. Passionate about protecting the environment and reducing waste, she started asking her family members not to buy her presents for her birthday and other special occasions.
But her grandson, Mathieu Yuill, still wanted to find a special way to honour her. Mary had been a tremendous influence in his life, sharing not only her love of the natural world but her commitment to education as well. Although Mary had not had an opportunity to pursue higher education, she dedicated herself to the pursuit of knowledge in adulthood.
As an alumnus of Centennial College and a former long-time employee of the school, Mathieu and his wife, Alison, realized that a scholarship in Mary’s name would be the perfect way to pay tribute to her. After exploring their options for different program areas to support, they landed on the one that would be most meaningful to Mary: Environmental Technology.
Mathieu and Alison made an initial contribution and raised enough money from their family and friends to create an endowed fund in Mary’s name. When they shared the news that they’d created the scholarship, Mary was delighted.
“She thought it was perfect,” says Mathieu. “She wanted to encourage students to make the world a better place.”
Established in 2007, The Mary McIntosh Memorial Scholarship now provides a $1,000 award each year to a top student in their second or third year of the Environmental Technology program who demonstrates financial need.
Mary passed away in 2008, but her fund has only continued to grow as family and friends regularly make contributions in her memory.
“It doesn’t take a lot of people to make a big difference,” says Mathieu. “And because it’s an endowed fund, her legacy will live on for generations.”
Supporting the education of Canada’s future environmental leaders, Mary’s legacy is indeed one that will be felt for years to come – by all Canadians.
Centennial’s Environmental Technology program prepares students to work in conservation and restoration activities and manage complex environmental challenges. Emphasizing the three key disciplines of biology, chemistry and civil engineering, students are equipped with a unique combination of technical skills that set them up for success.
Graduates of the program go on to work for the government, local environmental protection agencies, companies developing innovative new green technologies and non-profits, to name a few.
Every year, Mathieu and his family attend Centennial’s Student Awards Night and meet the recipient of The Mary McIntosh Memorial Scholarship. After witnessing the impact that their gift has had on the lives of young students pursuing their dreams, Mathieu wants to encourage others to consider the power of scholarship giving.
“Sponsoring a scholarship allows you to invest in what you value and create a legacy that will last for generations to come,” he says. “Scholarships also give you something tangible to appreciate and contribute to every year. There are very few things in life that can accomplish all of those things.”
To learn more about how you can make a gift and support Centennial students, please contact giving@centennialcollege.ca.