Inspired by the notion of ‘giftivism,’ a Skule™ alumnus has established a new graduate student scholarship in U of T Engineering’s Centre for Global Engineering.

It you’re not familiar with the notion of ‘giftivism,’ you’re not alone. The donor, who wishes to remain anonymous, defines the term as the practice of radically generous acts to change the world. “Service is the ideal gift, but due to my current circumstances, this was not possible. So I decided to give a financial gift,” he states.

The new scholarship, to be known as the Wisdom Fellowship, will be presented to a graduate student conducting research affiliated with the Centre for Global Engineering. The criteria call for the award to be given to a student who is not only excelling academically, but also based on how she or he “… develops and applies generosity, compassion, and community service in their graduate research.”

As a graduate student, the alumnus benefited from financial support provided from government agencies and a fellowship that was established by Skule™ alumni. “These gifts allowed me to focus on my research and education without having to worry about financial stability. This convinced me that all students should have such an opportunity to pursue knowledge,” he says.

The benefactor says that establishing the scholarship was a “joyful experience” and one that will ultimately provide a return on his investment. “In the present case, giving others the opportunity to pursue knowledge will yield greater knowledge to me,” he states.