Special thanks to our donors who established awards and funds between May 2024 and March 2025.
These awards and programs provide critical resources and direct financial support to allow our students to fully immerse themselves in their education, allowing them to concentrate on their studies, explore opportunities and build lifelong professional and social networks.
“I truly love learning, and there’s no better place to do that than at UW. All my courses have opened my eyes to the true scope of opportunities that are available for me to pursue. I’ve truly never felt more inspired to take risks and push myself to make the most of my time here because it’s a real privilege to be able to pursue an education like this one. The peace and support that your scholarship has provided far surpasses its monetary value––much more than I will ever be able to express. So, once again, thank you so much! I promise that I am making the most out of every cent.”
— ARTS UNDERGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENT
Funds
Houston Theatre and Performance Experiential Learning Fund
This fund supports activities that deepen Theatre and Performance students’ skills and knowledge, support professionalization, build networks, and fuel their passion for working in theatre and performance. Activities may include study abroad, workshop attendance, residency programs, conference participation, engaging visiting lecturers, directors, or playwrights who will work with students and/or offer workshops and public lectures. This fund was established by Dr. Andy Houston via a grant from the James Wilson Houston & Jacklyn Louise Houston Charitable Gift Fund. Dr. Houston is proud to honour the legacy of his late parents who supported and encouraged his love for and career in theatre education.
Timothy D. Mayer Charitable Foundation Co-op for Social Good Work Term
Many Waterloo students dream of careers that make a difference—but not-for-profit and nonprofit organizations often lack the funds to hire a co-op student. This fund gives Arts students the chance to develop future-ready skill sets and discover what it’s like to work in the non-profit sector, while non-profit organizations in our community benefit from our students’ entrepreneurial mindset and passion for humanity. A grant of $10,000 is made to an eligible charity to hire an Arts student for a co-op work term position.
Awards
Sheila Ager Scholarship
This award was established by the family, colleagues, and friends of Dr. Sheila Ager, and the Arts Foundation Fund in grateful appreciation for her dedicated service as Dean of Arts (2019 to 2024). Dr. Ager is a Full Professor of Classical Studies at the University of Waterloo. Her principal area of interest is Greek history, focusing on the Hellenistic Age, from 323-30 BCE. An award of $1,200 will be awarded annually to a full-time Honours Arts or Honours Arts and Business undergraduate student enrolled in Year Two of any program in the Faculty of Arts, and selection is based on academic excellence.
Thomas A. and Julia V. Andreoli Scholarship in Psychology
Dr. Virginia Anna Andreoli Mathie is a proud alumnus of the University of Waterloo, achieving a BMath (Computer Science) in 1970 and an Honours BA (Psychology) in 1971. She went on to acquire an MA and PhD in Social Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and enjoyed a successful 29-year career at James Madison University (1975 to 2004) in the Department of Psychology, followed by four years as Executive Director of Psi Chi, The International Honor Society in Psychology (2004 to 2008). Virginia was a revered teacher who made a positive difference in the lives of her students. This scholarship, valued at $1,800 will support 4th year Psychology students enrolled in the Faculty of Arts or Faculty of Science. The scholarship will continue her legacy of kindness, grace and charity, along with her dedication to collaboration, cross-disciplinary learning, and interdisciplinary partnerships. She established the award in honour of her parents, Thomas and Julia, who modeled values of service, kindness and generosity.
Innovation in Psychology Graduate Scholarship
Two awards, valued at $7,500 each, will be provided annually to full-time graduate students registered in the Department of Psychology who are conducting innovative research on improving mental health outcomes for children and their families. This could be helping children and adolescents’ function better in a variety of environments, including school, their peer group or in their family. This scholarship was created by anonymous donors who are committed to helping the next generation of graduate students pursue their research and careers. The donor’s desire was to establish an award that is in keeping with the scientist practitioner model of psychology and will benefit children and their families.
Wefers Bettink Family Graduate Scholarships
Paul Anthony Wefers Bettink, BA ’87 Political Science established this scholarship to honour his time at UWaterloo. Paul is passionate about creating tangible opportunities to support graduate students in the Department of Political Science who are seeking an innovative and research-focused master’s program geared towards a wide variety of career paths across the public and private sectors. Paul champions the idea that securing a scholarship can build a sense of pride, life-long learning, and confidence for future private and public sector employees. An award of $1,500 will be provided annually to a student enrolled in the master’s program in Political Science in the Faculty of Arts. Selection is based on academic excellence and research potential at the time of admission to the program.
Wendy Mitchinson Master’s Award in History
This award, valued at $1,800, will support a graduate student enrolled in the research-based master’s program in the Department of History who has a demonstrated interest in gender studies from a historical perspective, which includes such related topics as women’s history, history of masculinity, gender and society, gender and the state, and/or scholarship engagement in gender theory or concepts of gender as a social construct. This award was established by Rex Lingwood a Canadian sculptor born in Toronto in recognition and in honour of his late wife Dr. Wendy Mitchinson (1947-2021), who was a Professor of History at the University of Waterloo from 1985 to 2013. Beyond her distinguished career as one of the leading scholars in Canadian gender and medical history, Wendy was an active citizen in both the university and the profession. She received the Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision (2013) and was made a Distinguished Professor Emerita (2015).
Support Arts
Are you interested in supporting a fund or starting a scholarship? Let us know by emailing artsadv@uwaterloo.ca or contact Kim Bardwell at 519-888-4567, ext. 47310.