Johnson & Johnson Vision will support both full- and part-time Opticianry students each year for the next five years thanks to a generous donation to student financial aid. Two awards of $2,500 will be given to Opticianry students to help with tuition costs and course resources.
“Financial aid has been shown to increase pathways in other Seneca programs by at least 45 per cent,” said Lindsay James, Seneca’s Senior Development Officer. “Results such as these indicate that supporting students motivates them to achieve academic success.”
Johnson & Johnson Vision’s recent gift adds to their previous $25,000 donation to establish 10 financial aid awards for Seneca Opticianry students.
“Johnson & Johnson Vision, guided by our credo, is committed to the advancement of opticianry in Canada,” said Ted Lachmansingh, Business Director, Canada. “We are thrilled to be able to provide this donation to offer financial awards to deserving Seneca students.”
Not to be overlooked is the positive impact gifts like these have on a student’s confidence in their ability to succeed once a financial barrier has been removed. Our students are feeling the strain — 55 per cent are very concerned about where the funding will come from for their studies. Amid a year of job loss, social isolation and travel restrictions, the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on Canadians, as many struggled with mental health and addiction issues, according to recent Ipsos polling.
The generous support of great partners like Johnson & Johnson Vision are helping to ease some of the financial burden for students who face challenges to make ends meet.
“This award is an immense help in my abrupt transition into the optician field,” said Grace Park, Opticianry student and 2020 Johnson & Johnson Award Recipient. “I am honoured to be part of such a generous community that supports the upcoming generation of professionals.”