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Queen’s has continued to demonstrate a commitment to increasing access and enhancing diversity at Queen’s with a series of programs created in recent years, including the Promise Scholars, Commitment Scholars, Karta Catalyst Scholars, and Principal’s Global Scholars. After two years of disrupted on-campus activity due to the pandemic, Student Affairs invited all current scholars to a reception to welcome the newest recipients, forge connections among the groups, and celebrate their accomplishments. The reception took place in Rose Event Commons in Mitchell Hall.

Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs Ann Tierney hosted the event.

“We are so extremely proud and excited to welcome you to the Queen’s community, and it is our hope you will feel empowered to achieve your goals as you journey through your individual experience here,” said Dean Tierney. “Queen’s is committed to enhancing access to our university and to welcoming and celebrating students who are advancing racial and social justice, and who bring a diversity of experiences and perspectives. We’re all enriched by your decision to study here at Queen’s, and we thank you for choosing Queen’s.”

Second-year Commitment Scholar Kyla Gibson also spoke; she talked about her Queen’s experiences so far and she had some advice for her peers.

“The Commitment Scholarship gave me the courage to attend this university as a Black student, and what I found was a sense of community among Black students that can only be created from the true and sincere need for unity, support, and togetherness,” said Gibson. “So on behalf of all the scholars, I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in creating these opportunities for us. At every school there is still so much change that needs to happen, and I encourage you to uplift each other and unite in our different fields of activism so we can make Queen’s an environment for all people. So the advice I leave you with is to find the people who are willing and excited to help you. Many of them are here today, welcoming and celebrating us as passionate youth and scholars.”

Following the remarks, the more than fifty student attendees spent time chatting with each other, and with faculty deans and staff members involved in the programs and in student services.

Queen’s access and diversity scholarship programs

The Promise Scholars program is a comprehensive initiative designed to reduce financial barriers and increase access to Queen’s University for local, first-generation students. The program provides dedicated financial, academic, and career support to help students complete their degree. Five awards will be available each year, and there are currently 12 Promise scholars at Queen’s.

The Commitment Scholars program supports diversity on campus and recognizes the significant contributions our students make to creating and supporting an inclusive community through their commitment to racial justice, social justice, and diversity in their schools, their communities and at Queen's. There are currently 22 Commitment Scholars at Queen’s.

The is a partnership with the Karta Initiative that provides access to university for promising students from low-income rural communities in India. There are currently six Karta Scholars at Queen’s. 

The Principal’s Global Scholars program provides students who have been forcibly displaced by war, conflict, and political instability with an admissions pathway and funding to complete their degree at Queen’s. Through a long-standing partnership with the , Queen’s is welcoming two African and five Afghani students to campus this fall. In addition to our WUSC partnership, Queen’s is welcoming six students from Ukraine.

This story orginally appeared on the Queen's Gazette.