Awards
2024 Tri-Agency and Government-Funded Award recipients
Congratulations to our 2024 Tri-Agency and Government Award recipients!
Canada Graduate Scholarships 鈥� Master's Program (CGS-M)鈥赌�
Administered by Canada鈥檚 three federal granting agencies, the CGS-M supports Canadian students across all disciplines. The objective of this program is to foster research skills and contribute to the training of highly qualified personnel by supporting students who exhibit exceptional performance in their studies.
Sophia-Luise Hladik
Throughout her twenties, Sophia Hladik served as a frontline worker in a transition house, aiding women and children escaping violence. Witnessing firsthand the repercussions of the housing crisis and inadequate public services like childcare, Sophia recognized the critical link between these issues and the safety and autonomy of women and children.
Driven by her experiences, Sophia's passion lies in social policy, childcare, and addressing violence against women. Eager to deepen her understanding of these areas and hone her research abilities, she pursued the MPP program.
Supported by the CGS-M, Sophia aims to delve into the intersection of violence against women and access to childcare. Her ambition is to cultivate her research skills further, with a long-term vision of contributing to policy initiatives that advance the status of Canadian women.
Sharon Sa
Sharon Sa is driven by a passion for effecting meaningful, systemic change, particularly in response to the increasing disparities she has witnessed in society. Motivated by the stark ecological footprint of the wealthy and the disproportionate toll of climate change on vulnerable communities, Sharon was inspired to pursue policy work and enrolled into the Master of Public Policy (MPP) program.
Before entering the MPP program in 2023, Sharon identified a notable gap in research concerning the intersection of climate and health, particularly within a local context. She foresaw challenges for local governments, like Vancouver, in adequately addressing the health implications of escalating climate-related events. For example, the long-term health effects and dangers of particulate matter that is contained in wildfire smoke can have devastating long-term health impacts.
Being awarded the CGS-M represents a significant milestone for Sharon's academic and professional journey. Recognizing the pivotal role of high-quality data in shaping research outcomes and subsequent policymaking, she intends to allocate this funding towards essential research expenses, specifically for data collection and survey dissemination efforts. Sharon is driven to achieve her ambitious goals with the support she has garnered.
Moreover, Sharon aims to integrate insights gained from her summer co-op term with the Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness into her forthcoming research endeavours, further enriching her contributions to addressing pressing societal challenges.
British Columbia Graduate Scholarships (BCGS)
Granted on behalf of the Ministry of Advanced Education, Skills and Training, this award offers one-time funding for competitive, merit-based graduate student scholarships.
Madison Pretty
Madison Pretty has a passion for learning and research. With a keen interest in economic inequality, human rights, and social housing policy, Madison was drawn to the MPP program for its diverse research, distinguished faculty, and commitment to social justice.
With funding from the BCGS, Madison has set sights on completing a Capstone. They envision exploring avenues to prevent youth sexual exploitation, particularly examining the nexus between this issue and the government supports available for youth transitioning out of child welfare services.
Eager to make a tangible impact, Madison plans to channel her scholarship funds back to their home province of Ktaqmkuk (Newfoundland) and Labrador. They aim to engage directly with local youth and service providers using a community-based research approach to center the voices of people with living/lived experiences.
Firmly rooted in her belief that the most effective policy solutions arise from those directly affected, Madison sees it as their duty within the MPP program to advocate passionately for these solutions to be identified and implemented.