Financial Aid

Brittaney Fraser-McCann Memorial Bursary Created at Pembroke Campus

As a student at Algonquin College’s Pembroke Waterfront Campus, Brittaney Fraser-McCann was an inspiration to others who were pursuing a college education. She was a single mother who was trying to balance her schedule between taking classes at the college and parenting. It wasn’t easy and it required her to extend her educational journey, sometimes she was only able to study part-time, but by 2013 McCann-Fraser had graduated from the Practical Nursing program.

It was a significant accomplishment and she quickly found work at the Pembroke Regional Hospital. She primarily worked in the rehabilitation unit, always bringing a positive attitude to work and the “can do” spirit that allowed her to face the day to day challenges of life.

Fraser-McCann and her husband Kelly McCann had a busy household. The couple had added three more boys to the family unit, but in February of 2021, Fraser-McCann suffered a brain aneurysm that required an endovascular coiling procedure to repair the bleeding. The young mother met the diagnosis with determination but while recovering from the medical intervention, doctors discovered she had Moyamoya disease, a chronic and progressive condition that effects the arteries in the brain. It was during a third coiling procedure to try to fix the aneurysm that she passed away at the Ottawa Civic Hospital.

Fraser-McCann was only 33 years old. Her tragic death just prior to the Christmas holidays led to an overwhelming public response as more than $100,000 was raised for her family through a go fund me site. The fundraising campaign was led by a close friend, Stephanie Hewitt who has now teamed with Kristen Leitch, who worked as a nursing colleague with Fraser-McCann, to set up a memorial bursary at the College. The two women say the bursary will keep McCann-Fraser’s memory alive by celebrating her educational accomplishments.

Fraser-McCann

“In 2018 I explored returning to school for the upgrading and networking possibilities. I entered the Pembroke Campus, enrolled in the Business program in Fall of 2019 as a single, sole supporting parent and my biggest cheerleader was my best friend, Brittaney. She understood the challenges and struggles of trying to earn an education while trying to do one’s best as a parent,” says Hewitt.

Finding a way to celebrate Fraser-McCann’s life has been paramount to Leitch who owns HeLa Beauty, a medical spa in downtown Pembroke. Fraser-McCann worked part-time at the health centre and Leitch says setting up the memorial bursary allows her to do something positive as she comes to grips with an incredibly difficult and sad situation.

”Her story inspired me to help create the bursary for another single parent in her name, because I think every successful applicant will have a connection and a relatable story. I think that knowing Brittaney was successful in college will give them the inspiration and comfort to persevere, just knowing it can be done,” says Leitch.

The Memorial bursary will be awarded each year to a Practical Nursing or Bachelor of Science in Nursing student who is enrolled in the Winter term at the Pembroke Campus. It will be earmarked for a single parent, reflecting the challenges Fraser-McCann faced when she enrolled in college.

“It was her college education that gave her the platform to enter into the nursing field after graduation, which ultimately provided her with the means to care for her son. She was proud to be a nurse. This Memorial Bursary will now affirm that Brittaney will forever be a part of the College, paving the way for other single parents that they too, can work hard towards making their dreams a reality,” says Hewitt.

Each year the Pembroke Campus of Algonquin College awards thousands of dollars in bursaries to students who are struggling financially to pay for their post-secondary education. Bursaries are always based on financial need, but can also award students for academic achievement.

A donation platform has also been created for the public to make donations to the Brittaney Fraser-McCann memorial bursary endowment.

 

(Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs)

 

A New Car or a College Education?

What’s a better investment? Buying a new car or enrolling in a college program? The answer is very obvious, but too many families don’t hesitate to finance a vehicle, but they second guess the cost of post-secondary education.

SimplValidate your chose, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campusy put, buying a car is a short term purchase while enrolling in post-secondary education is a life long investment in your future.

Society has been programmed to believe that higher education is expensive and out of reach for many families, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. The recent transformation of the Ontario Student Assistance Program has made access to post-secondary training greater than it has ever been.

More grants are available for students with lower incomes, the threshold for family income eligibility for student loans has increased and the application process has been simplified. Moving forward, students will also have a much clearer picture of what their investment will need to be in their education, allowing families to have better information sooner to make their plans for college.

High School Student, Algonquin College, Pembroke Campus

The next time you see the sticker price of $25,000 or $30,000 on a new vehicle that is tempting you, just think how that money could be better spent on earning a post-secondary credential that will carry its value for the rest of your life. Going to college is often a life-changing experience for a student that propels them into a career with higher lifetime earnings, more employment opportunities, enhanced confidence, and eventually more disposable income for things like new cars.

The bottom line is a higher education credential doesn’t depreciate and if you commit to life-long learning, you’ll continue to open doors for yourself. The little black book is a certificate, diploma or degree that will maintain its value and never run out of gas.

Need more convincing, check out Algonquin College’s graduate placement report.

Summer Struggles-Deciding Whether to Apply to College

BewilderedIt’s true that most college bound students have their plans in place for this fall, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to apply to a college program. In fact, every summer there is a small panic among hundreds of students who are frantically trying to get everything in place to enroll in college.

So, why do they leave it so late? In many cases it is circumstances, but more frequently they are dealing with a stomach pit of uncertainly of what lies ahead. Many applicants are simply worried they won’t be accepted into college or they won’t be successful.

Purple couch - 5 peopleOne of the great things about today’s college system is that there are plenty of supports to help students succeed, and that support starts before they actually begin their classroom studies. Through the admissions process there will be helping hands from staff who work in counselling, registration, student recruitment and financial aid.

Whether it’s taking a campus tour, having transcripts reviewed to determine whether an applicant has the necessary pre-requisites for a program, or learning about student loans and grants, a summer applicant can quickly get the answers they need to make an informed decision.

Geoff Mennie with eelWhile many college programs will now be closed or wait-listed because all of the seats have been filled, there are still dozens of programs that have availability. For example, programs like Business, Office Administration-Executive, Construction Techniques and Environmental Technician at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus remain open to applicants.

There’s no question that having a post-secondary credential has become paramount to a person’s ability to progress in the workplace. Increasingly, employers are asking for a minimum of a college certificate or diploma as a starting point to be considered for a job posting. That reality is the primary factor that drives a person’s decision to enroll in a college program.

Colleges have always been accessible to people of all ages and educational backgrounds. Whether it’s a student coming directly from high school, a university graduate who is enrolling in college to strengthen their practical skills within their field of study, or a laid off middle age worker who is training for a new career, there are plenty of options available to students.

Info Session Poster

So, if you’ve been procrastinating about applying to college, you’re not alone. Hundreds of would-be college students are struggling with the same decision this summer. The good news is, it’s not too late!

If you would like more information you can also register for our upcoming Discovery Evening on Thursday, August 4 @ 6:30 p.m.

Posted by Jamie Bramburger, Manager of Community and Student Affairs at Algonquin College’s Waterfront Campus.