Chasing a dream

Growing up in rural Ontario with few universities within close distance, Evan Accettola was told that he would never be able to pursue a post-secondary education.

Fast forward to 2024, which saw Evan graduate with distinction from SFU, obtaining not just his bachelor’s degree in sociology but three certificates in Indigenous studies research, police studies, and social justice. His journey was made possible through the generous support of donor-funded scholarships like the Coast Capital Rudy Nielsen Award, for which Evan was the inaugural recipient.

Despite having big dreams of attending university, he had not even seen one in person until his late teens. Evan never gave up on that dream and eventually returned to high school in his 20s to finish his studies. He then applied as a mature student to nursing school in Toronto, making a bold move from a small town to the big city.

After an eye-opening two-week trip to B.C., where Evan briefly resided for about a year when he was younger, he fell in love with the idea of living on the west coast and decided to make an even bolder transition to study at SFU.

“It has been a tough road for me getting to where I am, and it took some extra time,” says Evan. “But the help I received through funds like the Coast Capital Rudy Nielsen Award pushed me to accomplish a dream I wasn’t sure I could achieve.”

The award came at an optimal time when Evan needed financial support so he could focus on excelling in his studies—an endeavour that positioned him for his next ambition of graduate school.

Since receiving his undergraduate degree, Evan has successfully completed a Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean’s Undergraduate Fellowship and currently serves as an Indigenous Student Ambassador at the university’s Indigenous Student Centre. This September, he will be starting the master’s program in sociology at SFU.

“Many students have low grades because they are struggling with paying their rent, drowning in bills, and worried about their next meal,” says Evan. “The support of donors really uplifts people to perform at their highest level. That’s why bursaries and awards are important, because they enable students to achieve the grades they need to qualify for merit-based scholarships that too often feel out of reach.”