UVRA GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

The UVRA Graduate Scholarship Fund was developed with the intention of helping graduate students pursue their goal of conducting research on the many factors influencing aging and health outcomes within the rapidly growing 55+ age group.

The first UVRA scholarship, administered through the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health, was awarded Fall 2019 to Lisa Ohlhauser, a graduate student whose research project investigates the impact of aerobic exercise on cognitive decline.

The scholarship's second recipient, awarded Fall 2020, is Matilde (Matty) Cervantes. Matty's reserach interests include aging, intergenerational relationships, and wellbeing. Her present research involves exploring the social interventions, such as a participation in a choir, on the mental and social health of dementia caregivers.

Its third recipient, awarded Fall 2021, was Cynthia McDowell. Her research examines the risk and protective factors for optimal healthy aging with the goal of creating a gold standard for measuring successful aging.

Our latest recipients, awarded Fall 2022, are Ashleigh Parker and Sanjit Roy. Ashleigh Parker is a 4th year PhD student in Psychology and the title of her project is: Earlier Detection of Alzheimer’s Disease: Investigating Brain-Based Changes in Older Adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline. Sanjit Roy is a PhD student in Social Dimensions of Health and the title of his research project is: Elder Abuse Among Canadian Veterans: A Comprehensive Examination Using the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging.

The scholarship annually provides:

Two awards of $1,000 each, given to academically outstanding graduate students, with preference to PhD students, whose area of study is focused on adults aged 55+ and who are working with the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health. Selection of each recipient will be based on a statement that explains the intent and impact of their research (max 500 words). Preference would be given to students who have received no other awards or whose total award funding in the academic year does not exceed $5,000. Approval of each recipient will be made by the Faculty of Graduate Studies Graduate Awards Committee upon the recommendation of the Institute on Aging and Lifelong Health.

You are strongly urged to contribute to this worthy initiative which will have long term positive effects on furthering the research on aging. To contribute simply click on this link: https://extrweb.uvic.ca/donate-online/UVRA

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