Tepperman to fund scholarships for Indigenous Peoples

15 October 2021 HGO Staff

WINDSOR, Ontario – A multi-year financial commitment has been made to the University of Windsor by the regional and family-owned furniture, mattress and appliance chain Tepperman’s to provide post-graduate scholarship opportunities to Indigenous Peoples looking to reach the highest levels of education.

The Tepperman Family Graduate Scholarship for Indigenous Peoples will award two fully-funded scholarships annually – one to a qualifying student in each of a Master’s degree or PhD program. – one each for qualifying students in Masters and PhD programs.

“We believe this program fills an important educational gap that will empower these graduate students to be better equipped to make a difference within their communities and Canada,” Andrew Tepperman, the third-generation president of the 96-year-old company said in a statement.

University of Windsor President and Vice-Chancellor Rob Gordon says systemic bias and lack of financial supports are among the many reasons Indigenous Peoples are not appropriately represented in academia.

“Students in graduate programs need financial support and personal encouragement to continue their educational path and eventually share their own expertise through teaching, research, and creative activity,” Gordon said.

“We are grateful to the Tepperman family for recognizing the importance of providing this support. We all benefit when the best and brightest among us have the opportunity to pursue their talents and abilities without barriers,” he added.

The Teppermans’ commitment to academic opportunity has provided more than 700 students throughout southwestern Ontario with post-secondary tuition funding since 1988 and this latest initiative aligns with the company’s current ten-year corporate plan.

Andrew Tepperman notes Canada is a country of immigrants living on the traditional land of Indigenous Peoples and says all Canadians must find ways to reflect on how they can acknowledge and begin to rectify historic injustice. “There are many ways to support Truth and Reconciliation. Tepperman’s has chosen the path of higher learning,” he said.

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