Raptors’ Fred VanVleet launches Scholarship for Black or Indigenous University of Toronto Students

BY PAUL JUNOR

Undoubtedly, Fred VanVleet continues to make a difference on and off the basketball court as one of the Toronto Raptors’ star players. His entrepreneurial spirit can be seen in his own clothing line and his regular podcast, which showcases his complete support for individuals who have BIPOC’s business. He has partnered with the University of Toronto’s Rotman Commerce to offer a needs-based scholarship as announced in a news release at www.utoronto.ca on Saturday, December 13^th, 2021.

Rotman Commerce is one of the leading undergraduate business programs in Canada and it offers courses with the Rotman School of Management and the Faculty of Arts & Science. It will “Give preference to students in the management specialist program, including four-years’ tuition, a yearly stipend of $1,000 for books and mentoring by VanVleet himself.”

The Raptors’ guard made the announcement in a video posted to Twitter at @FredVanVleet. He tweeted, “This scholarship is important because it’s going to shine a light on some of those who may be underserved or under-privileged in certain communities and aspects. We know there’s a selection process to a lot of different scholarships and sometimes that counts people out. We’re just trying to make a concerted effort to shine a light on those who may have not gotten a proper opportunity.”

In a released statement at www.rotman.utoronto.ca, VanVleet states, “This is to create possibility and light for those who have faced bias, and who haven’t had the same chances as others. It’s important to provide opportunities to those who opportunity usually ignores, or works against, or excludes. Academia hasn’t traditionally been an inclusive place for many of us, and so it’s important to make space specifically for people who want to learn, but who are facing barriers that others do not.”

Masai Ujiri, Raptors Vice-Chairman and President states, “Fred set an example on and off the court, and this scholarship is further evidence of his leadership and his vision. I believe the recipient of the Fred VanVleet Scholarship will benefit from not just the support in their education but their relationship with this incredible person.” 

Alex Edwards, Associate Professor of Accounting, Director of the Rotman Commerce program is especially appreciative of this scholarship. He states, “We are so grateful for Fred VanVleet’s leadership and generous investment in future Black and Indigenous leaders. Scholarships not only provide crucial financial support, they also inspire students to challenge themselves and pursue big dreams within the Rotman Commerce program and beyond.”

With respect to the one-on-one mentoring that comes with the scholarship, VanVleet states, “Mentoring is an important part of this, because you won’t find a lot of the answers in books, or the answers that are there are filtered through an experience and a history that is not yours or that may not even be accurate because of bias. So maybe the answers come through conversations or shared experiences. Mentorship can provide inspiration, to seeing someone who looks like you, succeeding on their own terms is huge.”

Students who are interested must apply to Rotman Commerce first, log into join.utoronto.ca and follow Awards Profile link.