McMaster program 'the only way out' to university for some smart, talented Hamilton students

As students at Cathedral high school in Hamilton, Daniella Chukwu and Ebun Soneye had a lot in common — talent, 90 averages, a lot of community work and a post-secondary dream that was going to be very difficult to pay for.

"I was going to take an extra year off if I couldn't afford university," Chukwu said. 

Soneye dreamed of a degree that would allow her "to help people from marginalized communities."

Now, thanks to the McMaster University Access Strategy program Chukwu and Soneye know where they're going and are on their way.

The program, created in 2019, provides up to 20 students in need each year in the Greater Golden Horseshoe area with awards up to $20,000 and a chance to get work & mentorship experience at McMaster. 

Despite their talent, brains and community work Soneye says "If not for (the program), we might not have been able to go into post secondary education when we did. This award was the only way out at the time." 

The application fee is too much for some students to pay, manager says 

As students return to school this week,  Access Strategy program manager Celeste Licorish says, many don't have any idea how much more difficult it is for even some of the most talented students to get a seat in class.

"There are educational barriers some students face that don't even occur to others. I know bright students who were even reluctant to apply to university because the application fees were too much for them to pay." Licorish says.

The program helps out, and not just with the money, Soneye says. "The greatest thing about the Access Strategy isn't that we get the money, but the social support and work programs they provide. I can't imagine what our journey would be like if all the program did was give us money," she says.

The program opens doors that could otherwise be closed to people like Soneye and Chukwu.

Licorish says "showing students we believe in them in meaningful ways is incredibly important.  The Access Program and Award are ways McMaster acts on its commitment to inclusive excellence."

She says "the progress Daniella and Ebun are making fills me with joy. They're two of the first students I met when starting this program. They are remarkable, young women and it's an honour to play a part in their journey, to see what they are learning and growing to become."

Now Soneye is in an Honours Social Work program while Chukwu is in the Honours Political Science Specialization in Public Law and Judicial Studies program.

"Who knows," Chukwu says, "you might be looking at the next future Prime Minister."

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community — check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of. You can read more stories here.