Scholarship honours Collins’ elevation to College of Cardinals

TORONTO - Two university level student leaders, yet to be chosen, will soon be the first of many to benefit from the elevation of the Toronto’s archbishop to the College of Cardinals.

The University of St. Michael’s College at the University of Toronto has created a scholarship fund in honour of Cardinal Thomas Collins, as well as to recognize “all the work he has already done to bring the Church and the faith closer together,” the school said in a statement. 

“Cardinal Collins is the chancellor of the University of St. Michael’s College and to celebrate his elevation to the College of Cardinals, the university and some of our close friends and donors established this scholarship by way of celebration,” Sr. Anne Anderson, president and vice-chancellor of St. Michael’s College, told The Catholic Register in an e-mail.

The scholarship will be given out annually to two students at St. Michael’s who have “demonstrated outstanding leadership” during their time at the college. One student will be chosen from the Faculty of Theology, one from the undergraduate Arts and Science program.

Robert Edgett, the executive director of Alumni Affairs and Development at St. Michael’s, said the fund, which will be endowed, has already reached $75,000.

“(The fund) was originally established by (this) small group,” Edgett said. “Our intent is ... to extend it to all of our alumni and friends as part of our next fundraising cycle.”

Edgett says the college hopes to give out the scholarship for the first time at the end of this school year, at its June convocation.

“We want to be able to recognize it as soon as possible,” Edgett said.

Bill Steinburg, communications manager with the archdiocese of Toronto, is pleased with the creation of the scholarship.

“This is a great way to recognize the elevation of Archbishop Collins to the College of Cardinals, and all the work he has done as a leader in Catholic education,” said Steinburg. “Announcements like this are important as they reinforce and strengthen the connection between the Church and the school.”

Collins served as the archbishop of Edmonton before being appointed archbishop of Toronto in 2007, but Steinburg points out that through most of his career, Collins has been involved in Catholic education. For years, Collins lectured at King’s College and St. Peter’s Seminary in London, Ont. He has also held integral roles in overseeing and organizing seminaries in both Edmonton and Toronto, and was on April 21 named a member of the Congregation for Catholic Education, a committee that helps direct the work of Catholic educational institutions around the world.