December 2, 2025, marks the 13th annual GivingTuesday — a global movement that encourages the act of generosity in its many forms. Whether it’s helping out a neighbour, volunteering, or donating to a cause close to your heart, giving is all about doing good for your community.
At the Ivey Business School, giving comes in all shapes and sizes — one of which is student scholarships. Financial aid is a crucial part of so many Ivey students’ journeys. Scholarships, bursaries, and awards open doors to business education for so many aspiring leaders.
To celebrate GivingTuesday, we’re shining a spotlight on two Ivey scholarship recipients whose experiences highlight the tremendous impact of donor generosity.
Scholarship spotlight: Sameera Lakhani, HBA ’26 candidate
When Sameera Lakhani, HBA ’26 candidate, found out she was one of four recipients of the Scotiabank Continuing HBA Award, she felt completely overwhelmed with gratitude and relief.
“Opening that email felt life-changing,” she says. “It meant I could enter HBA without the heavy financial stress hanging over me.”
Established through a generous donation from Scotiabank, this $10,000 admissions award is given to a full-time, equity-deserving HBA student who self-identifies as a visible minority and who has demonstrated financial need. Preference is given to students who demonstrate community leadership and academic achievement. Recipients receive this award in both HBA1 and HBA2, provided they continue to meet the award criteria.
It’s given me the freedom to explore who I am becoming, not just what I am doing.
Lakhani says this award has allowed her to focus fully on her academics without having to juggle long work hours. “It’s also improved my mental and physical well-being because I’m not constantly stretched thin,” she says. “It’s given me the freedom to explore who I am becoming, not just what I am doing.”
Lakhani plans to pay it forward through mentorship, and financial contributions when she’s in a position to do so. “Receiving this award made me understand the real, transformative impact of generosity. One day, I want to fund a scholarship for a student who reminds me of myself: ambitious, passionate, and needing someone to believe in them.”
Scholarship spotlight: Racheal Bhosha, MBA ’26 candidate
Racheal Bhosha, MBA ’26 candidate, is the current recipient of the Ivey Business Leader Award Recipients MBA Leaders Scholarship, a $64,000 scholarship based on academic achievement and demonstrated community leadership made possible by the generosity of honorees of Ivey’s annual Business Leader Award.
This scholarship didn't just support my education. It made my Ivey journey possible.
“Because of their generosity, I get to dream bigger,” says Bhosha. “What they did transcends beyond the classroom. It's a permanent positive mark on my life, and something I'll always carry with me.”
For Bhosha, the financial support provided can’t be understated. “This scholarship changed everything for me,” she says. “I probably wouldn't be at Ivey at all. It would have been impossible because student loans alone wouldn't be a realistic source of funding. This scholarship didn't just support my education. It made my Ivey journey possible.”
Bhosha is no stranger to the spirit of giving. Back home in Zimbabwe, she covered school fees for underprivileged children. She did this in both high school and university, and continued to do so when she began working. “I never knew that one day I would find myself on the other side of the table needing somebody to help me in that way,” she says. “It’s made me reflect on the things we do without realizing they might one day come back to help us when we need them.”
Spirit of giving at Ivey: “lifting others up”
Apart from the financial aid they’ve each received, both Bhosha and Lakhani have experienced other forms of generosity at Ivey — whether that be from their classmates or alumni.
“People are so willing to help each other,” says Bhosha. “To take a few hours to walk through concepts so that we all make it through the course and pass.”
Lakhani’s experience echoes this. She says classmates go out of their way to help each other prepare, find work, or navigate tough weeks. “Ivey’s culture is built on peer support, whether that be note-sharing, prep groups, or project collaboration,” she says. And the clubs that she’s a part of foster connection rather than competition. “Leadership at Ivey is rooted in lifting others up: all of my roles have involved helping others succeed.”
Various Ivey events have reflected a spirit of giving, as well. Bhosha recalls the Get Connected MBA Event in Toronto, Ont., where she had the chance to connect with alumni who shared their experiences. There was also Ivey Social Impact Day, an annual event dedicated to service, connection, and learning about social, environmental, and economic issues, where she had the opportunity to be part of the planning committee.
“It's exciting when people go outside the Ivey walls into the community to make a difference in this spirit of generosity.”
If you’re interested in supporting Ivey students on GivingTuesday, or at any time of year, click here to donate online or contact Meghan Wilhelm, Manager of Annual Giving, at mwilhelm@ivey.ca.