Next-Gen Professionals on the Rise

Post-secondary education is not a luxury that everyone can afford. While some are lucky enough to receive financial support from family, many students have to juggle part-time jobs and classes, while dealing with an ever-growing mountain of student loan debt. Managing work, school and personal relationships, while dealing with the financial burden of tuition, often causes stress and burnout. Once students reach graduation, the stress does not come to an end. Nearly half of college-level students graduate with student loan debt to pay off as they enter the workforce. Since 2019, the average student loan has grown by 3.5% due to rising tuition costs and living expenses. Currently, there are more than 1.7 million Canadians living with student loans, with the average student owing $26,075.

The Scholarship

Many Canadians are unaware of the many scholarships, grants, and financial resources that are widely available to provide financial relief and reduce student debt. To help students reduce the financial burden of tuition, Jelly Academy – a digital marketing training institution in Vancouver, BC – founded the Jelly Academy Marketing Education Scholarship Fund.

With two $2500 scholarships to distribute, Jelly Academy searched nation-wide for the top two post-secondary students in Business, Marketing, Communications, Public Relations, and Computer Science programs. Having received hundreds of submissions from talented and hardworking Canadian students, the jury found it too difficult to narrow it down to just two winners. As a result, a total of five $2500 scholarships were awarded to the top five applicants across Canada.

Meet the Recipients

These five students all demonstrate a great passion for learning about marketing, with a deep commitment to serving their community. Already laden with various accomplishments and accolades as top-tier students and humanitarians, these individuals can only continue to rise up in their professional journey. After graduation, the scholarship recipients are set to make a big impact in the marketing and business industry, pursuing their dreams and aspirations. The five Jelly Academy Marketing Education Scholarship Fund recipients are:

1. Des’ree Isibor, from Lagos, Nigeria, is a 4th year Business and Communications student at Simon Fraser University in Burnaby, BC. After graduation, Des’ree aspires to be a marketing and communications consultant to help upcoming businesses build long-term strategies for their growth and success.
2. Melissa Migueis, a 3rd Year Communication and Journalism student at Concordia University in Montreal, QC. Melissa serves her community through her volunteer work at Carley’s Angels Foundation - a nonprofit organization for integrative cancer care. Melissa aspires to launch her own digital marketing agency for non-profit organizations.
3. Fisayo Olayinka-Bello, an award-winning travel blogger and a Masters of Tourism Management student at Royal Roads University in Victoria, BC. Fisayo is passionate about improving the tourism industry in her home country of Nigeria. Having started her own travel company, Fisayo hopes to use her education to continue supporting her country through destination marketing.
4. Farah Bates, a 2nd year Business student at Centennial College in Montreal, QC. From Guyana to Canada, Farah is passionate about serving her local community and helping others through mental health programs. After graduation, Farah hopes to become an entrepreneur.

Marketing Education Scholarship

The Jelly Academy Marketing Education Scholarship Fund provided integral financial support to these five students as they continue their education. With this scholarship, some recipients were able to pay for their housing fees, while others used it to pay for their fall semester tuition.

“The scholarship enabled me the opportunity to cover a portion of my outstanding tuition fees for my third semester, which was a blessing because it came at the right time.” - Fisayo Olayinka-Bello

”This scholarship is a life-long investment in my career and a reminder that my dreams are valid and can indeed come true.” - Des’ree Isibor

One of the students has dedicated her scholarship to fund her own communication programs including an inclusive blog for teens, and a digital “good news” magazine for children.

“I enjoy creating programs for kids and teens that can help spark an interest in communications for them; however, these programs are always out-of-pocket. This scholarship has allowed me to continue creating programs – so Jelly Academy’s generosity has not only benefited me, but also many youth who benefit from my creative programs!” - Melissa Migueis

Future Plans

As both the tuition costs and the demand for technically-skilled professionals rise, Jelly Academy hopes to continue to support aspiring marketers in meeting their goals and aspirations. By offering the Jelly Academy Marketing Education Scholarship Fund as an annual scholarship, Jelly Academy aims to reduce the financial burden students face and open the door to the rapidly growing job market. The five 2022 scholarship recipients are the first of many future academy students that will soon delight and innovate the Canadian workforce with their advanced academic opportunities. Moving forward, the academy will continue to support digital understanding and education to establish a stronger, better-prepared Canadian workforce.

Written by Marissa Mok