When Justice Murray found out he received the Matthew C. Daly Scholarship, he was “beyond grateful and completely in awe.”
The now-university student had worked hard throughout the academic year, not knowing if his efforts would result in any awards or scholarships.
“The scholarship contributed greatly to my academic success as it put me in positions to pursue my passion for psychology and surround myself with like-minded individuals who share the desire to understand human behaviour and help individuals in need,” said Justice, who received a $1,700 award through the Matthew C. Daly Scholarship Fund, held at the Burlington Community Foundation.
Matthew C. Daly was a Burlington teen who died in 2001. Justice noted that being mentioned in the same sentence as Matthew was “extremely significant.”
In 2025, scholarship funds at the Foundation provided area students with more than $28,000 in awards as they graduated high school and moved on to post-secondary education. Both college and university students were supported in their educational journey.
Ava McCauley was the recipient of the Paul Hansell School Life Award and shared that receiving the $500 award was “incredibly meaningful.”
“Throughout my time at Assumption [Catholic Secondary School], I committed myself to academic excellence while also being deeply involved in athletics, leadership roles, clubs, and community initiatives, always striving to lead with energy, compassion, and respect,” said Ava.
“Knowing that my efforts to uplift others and contribute positively to my school community were seen and valued was both affirming and motivating.”
Each year, the Burlington Community Foundation works with scholarship fundholders and area schools to administer awards that support graduating Grade 12 students. The amount and criteria for each award varies. Scholarships have been provided to students in Burlington, Hamilton, and Toronto.
“Being part of this next step in the journey of graduating students is very rewarding,” said Foundation CEO Megan Tregunno. “Through these scholarship funds, we can continue to invest in youth as they move forward into a new and exciting post-secondary chapter. It’s another way the Foundation is able to support community through generosity.”
Scholarship funds can be started by individuals, businesses, in memoriam, or by community organizations. Fundholders can choose how involved they would like to be with selecting the criteria for the award, including school designations, and naming the award.
If you are interested in learning about how you or your organization can start a scholarship fund, contact Megan Tregunno at MTregunno@BurlingtonFoundation.org or 905-639-0744 ext. 2.