The $25-million endowed gift – the largest to student financial aid in Queen’s history – has established a new undergraduate award for incoming students with demonstrated financial need. The first recipients received support this fall. The new Ann Baker Tuition Award provides substantial support toward tuition and fees and is renewable for up to three additional years, giving recipients greater financial stability throughout their studies.

With a focus on supporting students from Eastern Ontario, each award is worth between $10,000 and $18,000 per year. Eleven to 21 new students are expected to receive it each year.

The anonymous donor says their Queen’s education opened doors for them, and they remember the financial challenges they faced as a student and wanted to make that path easier for others.

Queen’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor Patrick Deane says the university has been preparing leaders for nearly 200 years, and attracting outstanding students with different perspectives, talents, and ambitions is central to that tradition. This gift helps ensure finances don’t prevent those students from choosing Queen’s.

“We’re incredibly grateful for this extraordinary act of generosity,” says Deane. “Remarkable students want to come to Queen’s, and for some, finances can be the deciding factor in whether they’re able to say yes. Gifts like this help change that. And once those students are here, we want them to have every opportunity to learn, get involved, build connections, and discover what they can accomplish.”

Corinna Fitzgerald, Vice-Provost, Student Affairs, says students choose Queen’s because they want all the experiences, opportunities, and connections that will prepare them for a life of leadership. They want to learn from experts who are leaders in their field and contribute to world-changing research. They want to engage in student life and develop skills and knowledge that prepare them for lives of impact. Queen’s, she says, is committed to giving students a holistic experience that matches that ambition.

That’s why the award’s renewable support is especially meaningful. Knowing that funding will continue throughout their degree gives students greater freedom to focus on everything they came to Queen’s to do.

“Financial pressure can affect every part of the student experience – from the time someone can devote to their studies to whether they can join a club, take part in research, or simply feel fully present in campus life,” says Fitzgerald. “This award gives students greater stability and peace of mind, allowing them to make the most of their time at Queen’s and become the leaders and humans they came here to be.”