Vanier Graduate Wins the 2020 BASF Entrance Scholarship

Montreal, October 23, 2020. Vanier College is pleased to announce that recent Communications, Media and Studio Arts graduate India- Lynn Upshaw-Ruffner, has earned the 2020 Jackie Robinson Entrance Award from the BASF (Black Academic Scholarship Fund). This $2000 scholarship will enable India to pursue her studies at Concordia University in Art History and Studio Art. Ultimately, India wants to curate and write about art works by marginalized communities.

The BASF Entrance Scholarship is awarded every year to honour a Black student from Quebec who has recently graduated from a CEGEP program and been accepted into a university undergraduate program.
The selection committee looks for students who demonstrate community involvement including volunteer work, participation in sports, social events, school or church activities.

While at Vanier, India was very involved in Vanier's community life. She worked in many organizations on campus, including acting as editor-in-chief for the student newspaper and head curator for Vanier's Henry Lehmann Art Gallery. Her stewardship of both the newspaper and the gallery was quiet but consistent and professional, and the choices she made for publication and art exhibits included a wide range of social justice issues.

In addition to her regular program, India also received a certificate from the Women's and Gender Studies College Major and was heavily involved in promoting the activities and benefits of this college major program. ??oeI was privileged to have India as a student, and she proved to be a quick study and adapted easily to the collaborative environment of the major,” says Maggie Kathwaroon, Coordinator of the Women and Gender Studies Major.

You can view the entire online award ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBF1b6S4Qe0. India's award and acceptance speech can be found at the 19:00 mark.

Congratulations to India-Lynn Upshaw Ruffner for her wonderful accomplishment.

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For information please contact:
Marguerite Corriveau, Vanier Communications 514-744-7500 ext. 7596
marguerite.corriveau@vaniercollege.qc.ca