Retired teachers offer financial aid to Loyalist College students

By Marc Venema

BELLEVILLE, Ont. (02/05/2012) (From L to R) Dianne Spencer, executive director of college advancement and external communications at Loyalist College, Margaret Workhoven, local executive of Retired Teachers of Ontario, Janet Marissen, President of District 19, Retired Teachers of Ontario, and Maureen Piercy, president of Loyalist College hold the $11,652 cheque presented to Loyalist College on May 2. The money will go towards bursaries for students in education-related programs. Photo by Marc Venema.

Educators of tomorrow who attend Loyalist College will have the opportunity for a new annual bursary thanks to educators of the past.

The Hastings and Prince Edward County chapter of Retired Teachers of Ontario (RTO) presented a cheque for $11,652 to the college during their annual general meeting on Wednesday.

Maureen Piercy, president of Loyalist College, said bursaries like this are investing excellence back into the area.

“It’s a great investment,” Piercy said. “We are just delighted.”

The amount will be matched with funds through the Ontario Trust for Student Support program, totaling the endowment fund at over $23,000.

The fund will provide financial aid to first-year students at Loyalist College who graduated from public schools in the Hastings and Prince Edward District and are studying education- related programs, including early childhood education, social service worker, and child and youth worker.

Janet Marissen, president of the local RTO chapter, said in press release that it was important for them to help future teachers in the Quinte region.

“We are investing in Loyalist today because the College is training the next generation of skilled workers who will be instrumental in supporting the Quinte region of tomorrow,” Marrisen said.

Margaret Workhoven, who sits on the local executive of RTO, said helping education students in financial need was an easy choice.

“It was a no brainer,” Workhoven said.

This is the first endowment from RTO to the college but Workhoven said it will now become an annual bursary.