Empowering students on Giving Tuesday

The Waterloo Engineering community rallied for Giving Tuesday on Nov. 28 to support two funds that empower students with the means to pursue their academic ambitions and prepare for professional success.  

In total, 183 donors supported the Waterloo Engineering funds with $61,230 in donations. 

95 donors supported the Engineering Student Teams Fund with a total of $28,460 in donations. 

88 donors supported The Equity Fund with a total of $32,770 in donations. 

The impact of these donations was amplified by special pledges. By securing over 60 donors per fund, each fund received a bonus donation of $5,000 from our challenge champions Dr. Mary Wells, dean of Waterloo Engineering, and Terry Weldon, a retired lab technician and instructor from the Faculty’s electrical and computer engineering department.  

The Engineering Student Teams Fund enables 30-plus student design teams — made up of students from all engineering disciplines and across campus — to participate in extraordinary extracurricular experiences that showcase interdisciplinary innovation at its best.  

Terry Weldon, the Engineering Student Teams Fund challenge champion this Giving Tuesday. 

“It gives me great pride,” says Weldon, “to know that my financial support will go towards covering the Waterloo Engineering Student Design teams’ material costs and equipment expenses which will help them achieve their goals.” 

Please enjoy this video that highlights the impact of Giving Tuesday donations for the Waterloo Engineering Student Teams Fund.

The Waterloo Engineering Equity Fund supports initiatives such as entrance scholarships and outreach programs promoting STEM education to increase representation of Indigenous and Black students in Engineering. 

Dean Mary Well, the Engineering Equity Fund challenge champion this Giving Tuesday. 

“This Giving Tuesday I personally supported the Engineering Equity Fund because of its focus on increasing representation, participation and inclusion of Black and Indigenous students,” says Dean Wells.

“The Engineering Equity Fund is playing an essential role in increasing equity and inclusion by funding scholarships at Waterloo to make engineering accessible for everyone.”  

"I greatly appreciate that my contribution to the community has been recognized as I didn’t believe I would receive any scholarship funding,” says Hermela Gebretsion, an electrical engineering student and Black and Indigenous students entrance award recipient.

Hermela Gebretsion, a Black and Indigenous students entrance award recipient.

“This award has motivated me to achieve more.

"It has encouraged me to believe in myself and keep trying my best in any endeavour. I hope this award continues to inspire students like me. Thank you!" 

If you’re a Waterloo Engineering supporter and missed Giving Tuesday, donations are always gratefully received at any time of the year.