It’s not every day you receive a hand-delivered scholarship offer from the Ivey Business School. But for Ayden Hwang, Ivey AEO 2029 candidate, that’s exactly what happened this past April.
HBA Recruiting Manager, Nicole Jesko, was in Calgary, Alta. Leading the annual Ivey High School Case Competition (IHSCC), and as luck would have it, Hwang was a participant. Jesko saw a perfect opportunity to deliver the exciting news in person.
At the end of the day, she pulled Hwang aside to tell him he’d been selected as the sole recipient of the Farida & R.K. Rahemtulla HBA Scholarship. “For a second, I thought I was in trouble,” says Hwang.
Stunned, he paused for a moment before asking Jesko, “Really?” She smiled and told him yes.
“I didn't expect that news at all,” says Hwang. “It was surprising and surreal.”
About the Farida & R.K. Rahemtulla HBA Scholarship
Established in 2013 with a generous gift from Zaheeda and Nav Rahemtulla, HBA '98, the Farida & R.K. Rahemtulla HBA Scholarship is an Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO) scholarship awarded annually to a student with AEO status at Ivey in their first year at Western who graduated from a publicly funded high school in Alberta. The recipient receives $5,000 during their first year at Western, and $10,000 during their first year at Ivey.
The scholarship is designed to unlock a path for talented students from Alberta who want to study out of province — something that Nav Rahemtulla, who grew up in Calgary, knows can seem out of reach for many. When Rahemtulla was in high school, his close friend had dreams of attending university out of province, but his parents were reluctant to let him go because of distance and financial constraints. It wasn’t until he earned a first-year scholarship that his parents finally gave him their blessing.
“That experience stayed with me,” says Rahemtulla, who is now a Founding Partner of LightBay Capital, a private equity firm based in Los Angeles. “It made me realize how many capable, driven students might be held back because of distance, cost, or family hesitation. That really solidified my desire to create a scholarship that could be the difference-maker for someone else.”
Rahemtulla, who is a first-generation university graduate, had his sights on attending Ivey. Initially discouraged due to the insufficient amount of loans that were available to out-of-province students, he approached his parents for help. Without hesitation, they told him they’d do whatever it took, including cutting back on their expenses and borrowing money. Rahemtulla’s uncle even stepped forward to fill any potential shortfall in funds.
To show his gratitude, he named the Ivey scholarship after them. “Their support and sacrifice changed my life,” he says. “I wanted to recognize it in a meaningful way and help other Alberta students who might be facing the same kinds of challenges.”
What is Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO)?
Advanced Entry Opportunity (AEO) is a conditional pre-admission offer to Ivey’s HBA program extended to students who choose to study at Western University, King’s University College, or Huron University College for their first two years. In any given year, 75% of Ivey’s HBA class have AEO status.
Students can apply for AEO after they apply to Western or one of its affiliated schools. The strongest applications demonstrate a well-rounded dedication to community, achievement both inside and outside of the classroom, and certain academic metrics.
In September, Hwang will enter Western’s Computer Science program, with plans to join Ivey for his HBA1 year in 2027.
“Ayden’s application was exceptional,” says Jesko. “He truly represents everything we look for in an Ivey student. He is driven, community-focused, and leaves a lasting impact through his involvement.”
Impact of the Farida & R.K. Rahemtulla HBA Scholarship
Hwang had a handful of enticing acceptance offers to choose from, including the University of Toronto, University of British Columbia, University of Waterloo, and Queen’s University.
To help narrow down his choices, he decided to cold-message an Ivey HBA ’25 graduate on LinkedIn and request a chat. That conversation, he says, showed him how supportive, friendly, and well-rounded Ivey alumni are. The scholarship offer was the final puzzle piece. “It helped solidify my decision and made me realize that Ivey alumni give back, which I really valued,” he says. “I think I made the perfect choice.”
The financial support from the scholarship will, Hwang says, give him the freedom to continue developing his extracurriculars and leadership skills in different clubs. And it’s also given him a sense of confidence and momentum. “I already feel connected to Ivey,” he says, “before my classes have even started.”
Why AEO scholarships matter
AEO scholarships can be incredibly helpful in alleviating any inertia students and their parents might be experiencing about the decision to leave home. They’re also an important part of Ivey’s recruitment strategy. They allow the School to recognize high-potential students who may not initially see themselves at Ivey for a variety of reasons, including financial and geographic barriers.
“AEO scholarships help break down those barriers and send a powerful message: we see your potential, we value your contribution, and we want you here,” says Jesko. “That kind of recognition can be incredibly affirming for a young person still deciding where they fit and what path to take.”
Rahemtulla knows firsthand how much harder it is to make the decision to leave the province knowing you are too far away to drive home on weekends and don’t have the funds to fly back. “I wanted to help remove that barrier for others,” he says.
AEO scholarships also help diversify Ivey’s student body, reaching students in regions where representation is lacking — something top of mind for Rahemtulla as he and his wife hope to expand their philanthropic impact in Alberta even further.
“Since we first established the scholarship, the HBA program has continued to grow, but so has the cost of tuition,” he says. “If we can make it easier for more talented students from Alberta to take that leap, it not only supports them — it strengthens Ivey by broadening its reach and enriching the national fabric of its student body.”
For Hwang, who also grew up in Calgary, the geographic specificity of the scholarship was affirming. “Knowing the scholarship was created specifically for someone from Alberta made me feel seen.”
Even small gifts make a big impact
A common misconception about scholarship giving is that donors must wait until they can make a massive endowment, which Rahemtulla says can feel daunting.
His advice? “Just get started, even if it’s small. It’s not about the size of the gift; it’s about the intention behind it. You’re creating access, opportunity, and connection for future students, and that’s something any Ivey alum can take pride in.”
Over the years, Rahemtulla has enjoyed meeting many scholarship recipients, which he says has been incredibly rewarding. One attribute he says they all share is independence — a drive to go against the grain and pursue something many of their friends and classmates maybe aren’t: to uproot their lives, leave Alberta, and bet on themselves. “Their proactivity seems purely internally driven,” he says. “It’s wonderful to see.”
More than anything, he hopes some will one day be inspired to become donors themselves. “That kind of ripple effect is how long-term impact is created.”
Though he’s not at Ivey yet, and won’t arrive at Western until the end of August, Hwang is already thinking about how he can pay it forward one day when he’s in a position to do so.
“I’ve already benefited from alumni who are willing to respond to a random high schooler on LinkedIn,” he jokes. “I would love to support students in whatever way possible after I graduate, whether it be helping them navigate decisions or funding a scholarship one day. If I can be that person for someone else, that would mean a lot.”
If you’re interested in learning more about how you can support Ivey students, please contact Nic Miller, Director of Development, at nmiller@ivey.ca.