O'Meara Family Scholarship

Award created thanks to the generosity of Ann Robson and her family

Award Overview

Value of the award:
Minimum $1,000
Number of awards:
Variable
Award frequency:
Annual
Level or program of study:
Graduate
Application Type:
Online Scholarship and Bursaries portal, accessible via uoZone.
Application Deadline:
November 3
Renewable:
No

Purpose of this Award

Award a scholarship to a graduate student registered in an English-language graduate program at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ottawa.

Eligibility Criteria

The candidate must:

  1. be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident, a person with the protected/refugee status or an international student
  2. be registered in an English-language graduate program at the Faculty of Education of the University of Ottawa
  3. have completed his/her undergraduate studies in an English-language program
  4. demonstrate academic excellence

How to Apply

Submitted in the Online Scholarship and Bursaries portal, accessible via uoZone, and must include:

  1. a copy of the applicant's transcript of undergraduate studies
  2. a letter (250-300 words) from the applicant outlining his/her view on how education contributes to society

About this Award

The fund was established in 2002 by Ann Robson and her family. Ms. Robson's grandparents, William and Elizabeth O'Meara had eleven children. The family was living in Ottawa and was like many in the early 20th century—working class Irish Catholic. None of William's and Elizabeth's children went to university, but most of them completed high school and obtained good jobs in government and the private sector. They had twelve grandchildren of whom nine are still living. Most have at least one university degree and some completed postgraduate studies. Six of them, including Ms. Robson, became teachers at varying levels between elementary and college. Some of William's and Elizabeth's great grandchildren are pursuing careers in education.

The family's belief in the value of education is what has inspired them to endow a scholarship in the family name. William O'Meara was born in 1871 and his last surviving child, Elizabeth Mabel, died in January 2002. In the intervening 131 years, the O'Meara family grew and prospered. Education is what helped Ms. Robson's generation and succeeding generations to become contributing members of society. They are happy to give back