Georgian College

Lasting Friendships - Extraordinary Adventures - Rewarding Career Opportunities We are charting a course to the future. Be a part of the next generation in Great Lakes Shipping! www.algonet.com @algomacentral G eorgian Advancement Committee volunteer Giselle Bodkin is passionate about education for young women. She launched WOMEN's inTUITION as a way to support them. Giselle spent the past six months asking women to empower women through a donation of $50 a month for five years. In total, each donor will give $3,000 to a fund that will create scholarships for female Georgian students in perpetuity. The need is there. Of the 24 public colleges in Ontario, Georgian ranks fourth when it comes to the percentage of students who access financial assistance through the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). Giselle, a partner at BDO Canada, thinks of her late sister-in-law Leanne Kavanagh when she thinks of the female students this fund will help. About 25 years ago, Leanne was working in an Orillia bar, making minimum wage to put herself through Georgian's nursing program part-time. Her parents couldn't afford to help her and she didn't qualify for financial aid. After a successful career as a nurse, when Leanne passed away from brain cancer, a note from one of her colleagues touched Giselle. "Dr. Hall said Leanne was the embodiment of what nurses should be. You see, Georgian College isn't just giving people a leg up, its graduating fantastic people. It's giving people opportunities." More than 120 people who pledged their support were invited to a celebration in November. They met female students and learned about their career aspirations. In turn, the students got to meet successful women and get professional development advice. The celebration's title sponsors were Meridian Credit Union and Metroland Media Group. WOMEN'S inTUITION GEORGIANVIEW 2015 30 TRANSFoRMING THE STUDENT EXPERIENCE

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