A Year Has Passed – How Have the 2023 Nahom Berhane Scholarship Recipients Fared?
By Heather Corbin, Communications & Resource Development Officer, Access Alliance
The scholarship has helped me attend school and pursue something I’m truly passionate about. I’m extremely grateful—it really was life-changing.
La’Miyah Woldegiorgis
September ushers in school bells, shorter days, and cooler weather. It also brings a sense of new beginnings, even for those of us no longer embarking on a fresh school year.
For some, September carries added anticipation and promise. In July, we awarded another group of four community-focused young leaders the Nahom Berhane Scholarship (NBS). As applause filled the air and spotlights shone on the fresh, confident faces of this year’s recipients, you, our loyal supporters and dear friends of NBS, must have felt happy for them to head back to school with mentorship to guide them on their post-secondary journey, and $4,000 to help cover their education costs. At the same time, haven’t you been wondering how last year’s recipients fared?
We wanted to know too. So, we reached out to Akosua, Robel, La’Miyah, and Simon, the 2023 scholarship recipients, to hear directly from them. Celebrating their wins and seeing them off always leaves us curious about their next steps, and how they’re managing their post-secondary education. Even with the scholarship, school can be challenging, especially for youth balancing academics, family commitments, and community involvement. We’re thrilled to share their updates with you:
Akosua Badu
The first in her family to attend university, Akosua shared, “This scholarship has been a crucial support system that helped me build a strong foundation for my first year.” It relieved a significant financial burden, allowing her to focus on her studies. “The scholarship has had a significant impact on both my academic and personal growth, giving me the tools and self-assurance I needed to succeed in my studies and beyond.”
Reflecting on Nahom’s legacy, she added, “This scholarship isn’t just financial aid. It embodies Nahom’s values—his dedication to equity and the pursuit of a more inclusive society. It inspires me to continue his legacy of advocacy, empowerment, and positive change within my community.” Akosua, we’re excited about the positive changes you’re making and wish you continued success!
Robel Gebreselasse
Robel, a busy Engineering Science student at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU), said the scholarship has profoundly impacted him. “In addition to my academic pursuits, I’m actively involved in extracurricular activities inside and outside of school.” He volunteers as an Ambassador for the Canadian Center for Victims of Torture’s Youth Advisory Committee (YAC), serves as a Mentorship Manager for SEDS-Canada, and participates in student design groups at TMU that focus on engineering design.
Robel is thankful for the doors the scholarship has opened, allowing him to explore these opportunities. “It means a lot to be part of this community,” he says. Robel, we’re so glad you’re part of it too!
It means a lot to be part of this community.
Robel Gebreselasse
La’Miyah Woldegiorgis
An organizer, advocate, and student leader in high school, La’Miyah transformed her passion for human behaviour into the pursuit of a BA in Psychology. “The scholarship has helped me attend school and pursue something I’m truly passionate about. I’m extremely grateful—it really was life-changing.”
Despite challenges during her first year, she said being a recipient meant “an opportunity to show myself who I am and what I’m capable of. It proves that anyone can achieve their goals if they stay true to themselves and focus on what matters—things that can impact people positively.” La’Miyah, your impact matters, and we look forward to seeing what you accomplish next!
Simon C
A first-year Computer Engineering student, Simon expressed gratitude for how the scholarship eased his financial stress, allowing him to focus on his studies. “It’s not only relieved the financial burden but also fueled my determination to excel and contribute meaningfully to my field.”
In addition to achieving academic success, Simon has engaged in extracurricular activities and invested in essential resources like textbooks. He also acknowledged the intangible benefits, saying, “The responsibility that comes with being a scholarship recipient has encouraged me to set higher academic standards for myself and seek out opportunities for personal and professional growth.” Simon, your focus and positive attitude will undoubtedly take you far!
Now, Onto Our 2024 NBS Recipients
End of July this year, we gathered to celebrate the achievements of this year’s recipients—Abena McRae, Emnet Goitom, Lamar Elfaki, and Misstura Brimah. These four hardworking young women have shown a passion for championing the values Nahom stood for: equity, leadership, and justice. It was an honour to meet them and hear about the challenges and achievements that drive them. We can’t wait to follow their journeys and see how the scholarship helps shape their paths. Stay tuned for updates in the new year!
Thank You to Our Donors and Supporters
It’s clear from the stories of past recipients that this scholarship has a profound impact, alleviating financial stress, building confidence, and giving students the time and space to focus on both academics and extracurriculars.
The Nahom Berhane Scholarship addresses inequities faced by young Black students of African descent. Over the past two years, four recipients have each received $4,000—a sum made possible by the generous contributions of our donors and supporters, many of whom live in the same communities as the recipients.
By giving to this scholarship, you are supporting dedicated youth who are committed to giving back to their communities through volunteerism, community service, and leadership. You are addressing systemic inequities in a tangible way, and helping students who aim to succeed and uplift others. We are deeply grateful for your support.
As we look ahead to 2025—the tenth and final year of the Nahom Berhane Scholarship—we’re excited about the opportunity to help more students on their path to success. We welcome contributions of any size to support another cohort of young community champions. Please donate.