Toronto, Ontario — A rookie on the Toronto Raptors is doing it all to ingratiate himself to his new Canadian neighbours as the Skilled Trades College of Canada (STC) has launched the “Scottie Barnes Scholarship” for BIPOC students across Canada.
The six-foot-nine Florida-born small forward, who has some familial connections in Canada, said he is excited to be able to offer young Canadians an alternative path in their education.
“Traditional university is great, but it’s also not a one-size-fits-all solution for every student,” said Barnes.
“I’m excited to team with STC to raise awareness about benefits of trade schools, and also make a community impact by delivering a scholarship that offers an opportunity to students who might have faced bias or not had the same chances as others.”
The Scottie Barnes Scholarship will cover tuition and learning materials, such as tools and textbooks, for any trade the recipient is interested in. Barnes and STC plan to award four scholarships for each of the next three years.
“We are excited to work with Scottie to shine a light on the skilled trades as a first-choice career option for young people, and a viable second career option for those who have been impacted by the pandemic,” said STC director Mike Di Donato.
The Skilled Trades College of Canada currently has five campuses in the Greater Toronto Area.
