Canadian refugee
Ahmed Award
This award is to honour the memory of a young boy from Darfur, Sudan, who came to Newfoundland alone as a refugee. He was blessed with an indomitable spirit, a warm heart and an incredible desire for higher education. He died tragically by drowning in August of 2008. The award is to help others with similar backgrounds and desires to pursue their dream of a higher education. Valued at a portion of the income on the investment, it will be awarded annually to a full-time or part-time student who has refugee status and is attending any campus of Memorial University of Newfoundland. Recipients must meet the minimum academic requirements for an award as defined by the University. Students must show proof of Canadian Refugee Status. The award will be granted by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards.
Karl Misik Award
This award was established by the generosity of Dr. Karl Misik’s friends and family to honour and celebrate his retirement in 2021. Dr. Karl Misik immigrated to Canada with his family following WWII, at the age of 12. His father worked as a family physician in outport Newfoundland. Like his father, Karl wanted to serve his community through medicine, so he pursued an undergraduate degree at Memorial University of Newfoundland with the goal of becoming a doctor. As a non-English speaker at the time, undergraduate studies were challenging for him, but despite the adversity he faced, he obtained his undergraduate degree at Memorial in 1965 and later graduated from Dalhousie Medical School in 1970. In 1972, he began practicing medicine in St. John’s and, since then, Dr. K – as he is affectionately known – has delivered over 2,500 children, provided care for thousands of Newfoundland families, and contributed to medical research. Valued at $250 annually, the award will be granted to a student who came to Canada as a refugee, resides in Newfoundland and Labrador, and is enrolled in any year of any undergraduate degree program at Memorial University’s St. John’s and Grenfell Campus. The recipient must meet the minimum academic requirements for an award as defined by the University. The award will be granted by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries, and Awards.
Tonya Bassler Memorial Award for New Canadians
This award was established by a generous donation from Dr. Gerhard Bassler in memory of his wife, Tonya Bassler. She devoted her professional career to teaching and helping refugees and immigrants in Newfoundland and Labrador start successful new lives in Canada. Valued at a portion of the income on the endowment, this award will be granted annually to a student who came to Canada as a refugee, resides in Newfoundland and Labrador and is enrolled in any undergraduate degree program at Memorial University of Newfoundland’s St. John’s or Grenfell campus. This award is renewable for up to 3 additional years, 4 years in total, if the student continues in an undergraduate program at the university and maintains clear academic standing. Recipients must meet the minimum academic requirements for an award as defined by the University. This award will be awarded by the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Scholarships, Bursaries and Awards.