For students carrying the weight of a major loss or other personal challenge, financial stability can help shape everything that follows. And now, thanks to the generosity of alumnus Matthew McGrath, Com’96, more students at Smith School of Business will have that support when it matters most.
Through a $1-million endowed gift, McGrath has established the Matthew McGrath Bursary to create sustained, multi-year funding for students entering the Commerce program.
Awarded based on financial need, the bursary prioritizes students who have faced major personal or family challenges that have impacted their finances, such as the loss of a parent. The award can be renewed for up to three additional years as long as the recipients maintain a satisfactory academic average and remain enrolled in full-time study.
One of the driving forces behind the bursary is to recognize perseverance. McGrath says he wanted to acknowledge the resilience it takes for students to pursue their education while navigating significant change and uncertainty.
“University can be extremely transformative, but it can be equally overwhelming, especially for students dealing with a loss or other serious life challenges,” he says. “Having lost my mother during the high school years leading up to my time at Queen’s, I know this firsthand. And so, I wanted to help create a sense of stability for students in these situations at a time when everything else may feel uncertain. If this bursary allows someone to focus on learning, building confidence, and moving forward with resilience, then it’s doing what I hoped it would.”
“I wanted to help create a sense of stability for students in these situations at a time when everything else may feel uncertain. If this bursary allows someone to focus on learning, building confidence, and moving forward with resilience, then it’s doing what I hoped it would.”
Matthew McGrath, Com’96
At Smith Business and across Queen’s, bursaries play a critical role in helping talented students access and thrive during their studies, regardless of their financial circumstances, says Lynnette Purda, Interim Dean at Smith School of Business.
“We’re so grateful to Matt for choosing to invest in our students in this way,” she says. “By prioritizing those who have faced exceptionally challenging personal circumstances, this bursary offers more than money. It gives stability and the chance for students to fully engage in their education at a critical moment in their lives.”
The renewable nature of the bursary is especially significant. Multi-year support reduces ongoing financial stress and allows students to focus on academics, take part in extracurriculars, and have greater peace of mind throughout their degree, says Christine Coulter, Artsci’98, MIR’14, Interim Associate Dean (Undergraduate Programs) at Smith School of Business.
“Knowing that support is there year after year can be life-changing for students – I’ve seen it,” says Coulter. “It allows students to plan ahead and go after opportunities they might otherwise have to pass up. That kind of continuity has a meaningful impact on student success and well-being now and long after graduation. We’re incredibly thankful to Matt for making this possible.”
Gifts like the Matthew McGrath Bursary underscore the vital role alumni and the entire Queen’s community play in shaping the university’s future. Through your generosity, you can help ensure students today – and for generations to come – have the support they need to tackle the world’s greatest challenges. Visit givetoqueens.ca to learn how you can be part of what comes next.
