Fitsum Areguy | Kitchener, ON
RECENT GRADUATE: BA ’17, Therapeutic Recreation
CAREER GOAL: Research
AWARD: Arthur and Gertrude Agajanian Award; McNeil Consumer Healthcare Paul D. Mitchell Bursary
Fitsum Areguy was down to his last few dollars when he heard he’d been awarded both the Agajanian and Paul D. Mitchell bursaries.
“It was such a relief," says Fitsum. "At the time I was doing a full-time unpaid internship at Toronto Rehab, which was a huge strain on my finances.”
The bursaries helped Fitsum through his last few weeks, and he graduated with distinction in June 2017.
Fitsum became interested in studying therapeutic recreation after caring for both his mother, when she became ill, and one of his brothers, who struggles with learning disabilities. Before coming to UWaterloo, he also worked as an inclusion support worker for the city of Kitchener and as an independent facilitator for a disability services and support organization in Waterloo.
Fitsum has his eye firmly on an academic research career and plans to begin a master’s program in fall 2018. Until then, he is teaching in South Korea.
“The impact of these awards just can’t be overstated," he says. "I would never have been able to finish school without them. I’m so grateful.”
The Agajanian Award is made possible through the generosity of Arthur and Gertrude Agajanian. The McNeil-Mitchell Bursary was established by McNeil Consumer Healthcare and colleagues of Paul D. Mitchell. Both are important awards that support students in financial need.
