Meet Trinity’s 2018 Whiteside Scholar

Posted: September 28, 2018

Jack Whiteside with 2018 Jack Whiteside Scholarship Winner Christine Sutcliffe

Each year, Trinity College offers its students more than $1 million in awards. These scholarships, prizes and bursaries not only allow Trinity to attract the best and brightest, but helps our students flourish while here. Among these important awards is the John Harvey Whiteside Scholarship.

Established in 2010 by Trinity alumnus Jack Whiteside, the John Harvey Whiteside Scholarship provides continuing funding ($15,000, twice renewable) for a Trinity student who has a strong academic record and community participation. This year’s recipient is Christine Sutcliffe.

Through generous gifts like John Whiteside’s, our students are given the chance to consider new opportunities to enhance their College experience. “Student awards are one of the most vital ways we support our incredible students at Trinity. We are so grateful to John Whiteside for establishing this generous scholarship,” said Mayo Moran, Provost and Vice-Chancellor of Trinity College.

Provost Mayo Moran, Jack Whiteside and Award Recipients at the 2018 Jack Whiteside Scholarship Reception in the Provost's Lodge

Provost Mayo Moran, Jack Whiteside and Award Recipients at the 2018 Jack Whiteside Scholarship Reception

For this year’s recipient, the scholarship will have an immediate impact. “It’s an incredible financial support,” Christine says. “It gives me the confidence to explore summer, international and extra-curricular opportunities.”

Along with her strong academic record, Christine has also been very active in the Trinity community. “I knew I wanted to become involved as soon as I began first year, when I was elected First Year Head,” she says. This early participation was incredibly beneficial to Christine: “My peers and I have been empowered by meaningful student leadership roles within the College, helping to foster confidence and passion.”

This year, Christine will continue to participate in both the Trinity and U of T communities – she currently acts as Saints Co-Chair, Junior Representative to the Senate’s Community Affairs Committee, Deputy Chair of the Board of Stewards, is a Student Member of Corporation and was recently elected as Lead of Education and Networking for the Hart House Musical Committee. She founded the Trinity College Arts Council with the vision to offer on and off campus arts programming to students: “I have organized a music teaching initiative to provide an arts education to children and youth in our city regardless of financial barriers.”

Now as a Whiteside Scholar, Christine will continue her studies in Music and Art History, as well as other exciting extracurricular activities. “I have started to learn the Cello,” she says. “I also hold a position at the Canadian Opera Company.”

To date, the John Harvey Whiteside Scholarship has assisted nine Trinity students achieve their academic goals. Thanks to scholarships like this, the next generation of leaders at Trinity College are assured the support they need to succeed.