Student awards history

Jack MacDonell Scholarship for Research in Aging 

1984–present

The Jack MacDonell Scholarship for Research in Aging was established in 1984 to encourage and stimulate graduate student research in aging in recognition of the contributions and achievements to the Centre on Aging, teaching, research, and service to gerontology by Dr. John A. “Jack” MacDonell. Dr. MacDonell played a vital role in the development of the Centre on Aging, where he served as Chair of the Centre’s Advisory Board.

Dr. MacDonell (1918–2011), Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, University of Manitoba, is considered the father of geriatric medicine in Manitoba and Canada, and had a major role in developing the first day hospital in Winnipeg and North America. He advocated for a multidisciplinary approach to care for older adults which recognized their dignity and continuing capabilities. He was a Founding Member of the Canadian Association on Gerontology.

Esther and Samuel Milmot Scholarship 

1987–present

The Esther and Samuel Milmot Scholarship was established in 1987 through a bequest of Phoeme Simkin, in honor of her parents Esther and Samuel Milmot. The scholarship serves to encourage student interest in aging and was first awarded in the 1988–1989 academic year. The Esther and Samuel Milmot Scholarship is awarded to an undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a program related to gerontology in the Faculty of Arts, or a student in the Faculty of Graduate Studies within a field of study in the Faculty of Arts. 

Centre on Aging Betty Havens Memorial Graduate Fellowship 

1999–present

The Centre on Aging Betty Havens Memorial Graduate Fellowship was originally established as the Centre on Aging Graduate Fellowship in 1999 in recognition of the United Nation’s International Year of Older Persons to encourage graduate student interest in research in aging. In 2005, the Graduate Fellowship was renamed the Centre on Aging Betty Havens Memorial Graduate Fellowship in honor of the late Betty Havens’ contributions to the Centre and research in aging. Betty Havens made numerous contributions to the Centre on Aging and was a leader in social gerontology and health services research on older adults.

Dr. Barbara Payne Award

2012–present 

The Dr. Barbara Payne Scholarship was created to honour the legacy and achievements of Dr. Barbara Payne, a vital friend and supporter of the Centre on Aging. Dr. Payne served as Acting Director of the Centre on Aging (2009–2010) and was a longtime Centre on Aging Research Affiliate. Dr. Payne was an Associate Professor in the Department of Community Health Sciences at the University of Manitoba. She specialized in the fields of social gerontology, health sociology, oral health in older adults, and successful aging. Dr. Payne introduced and taught the core courses for the Graduate Specialization in Aging, highlighting her dedication to aging-related education. Her accomplishments include being awarded a Centre on Aging Research Fellowship (2004–2005), serving as Director of the Aging in Manitoba Study, and serving as Conference Chair of the Canadian Association on Gerontology’s 2009 Scientific and Educational Meeting. To honour Dr. Payne’s memory, this scholarship recognizes graduate students who have demonstrated an interest in social gerontology.

2021–present

In 2020, the University of Manitoba Retirees Association established an endowment fund at the University of Manitoba to offer the University of Manitoba Retirees Association Scholarship. The scholarship was approved by Senate on May 13, 2020, with the first award given out in fall 2021. The scholarship was established to reward the academic achievements of graduate students pursuing research focused on aging which has the potential to enhance the lives of the aging population.