Symington creates award to help students
Staff members at Nipissing take pride is going the extra mile when helping students; it’s an approach that breathes truth into the One Student at a Time slogan. Leah Symington, Coordinator in the Fine and Performing Arts Department, is upping the ante. She started the Leah Symington Award in Fine Arts in 2013 with her own money, and is now working to turn it into an endowed fund that will help students for many years to come. As a graduate and now full-time employee in the Fine and Performing Arts Department, Symington knows firsthand the financial dilemmas that many students face; particularly those taking studio courses. As a student, she struggled to make ends meet, holding down multiple jobs while balancing her studies. She vowed to help others in that position.
Symington works to develop a strong connection with the students, making sure she knows everyone’s name, as well as their styles, preferences and personalities.
“I do what I can to help students reach their potential - be it constructive criticism, supply/technique suggestions, or just a word of encouragement,” said Symington. “This award is a tangible extension of that assistance. It is my hope that it will help students feel supported and inspire them to continue to grow in their practice, well beyond their years at Nipissing University.”
It seems to be working: “Receiving this award not only helped offset the costs of art supplies and living expenses, but also encouraged me to keep working on my artistic practice and involvement in fine arts events,” said Gerald McComb, 2014-15 recipient.
Since 2013, three deserving FAVA (Fine Arts/Visual Arts) students have received $500 through the Leah Symington Award in Fine Arts, to help offset the cost of studio courses and supplies. The award is presented to a student currently in the fourth year of a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree on the basis of academic merit and deemed most deserving by the Fine and Performing Arts Department. At the department's discretion, the award may alternatively be given to a third year student, to ensure that a fourth year of study remains financially accessible.
Symington is now turning her attention to converting the award into an endowment award, where the lump sum of funds generate yearly interest, which is then issued as an award. An endowed award is self-maintained and can help students for many years into the future.
In order to establish an endowment, there must be $10,000 generated. The funds then accumulate interest for a full year before issuing an award. Currently, the interest rate is 3%, allowing for a $300 award to be issued annually.
Symington anticipates that it will take approximately four years to generate $10,000, including her personal contributions, and is planning some fundraising.
Since April 2016, she has raised $2,400, with an additional $5,000 pledged over the next four years. Her goal is to hit $10,000 as soon as possible as the sooner the funds are able to accumulate interest, the sooner the students will directly benefit.
“I am currently working on a Colour Your Coordinator / Paint Your Prof fundraiser, where students will be invited to purchase a pack/handful of coloured, non-toxic powdered paint, that they throw at the target of their choice - creating a walking tie-dye effect. Several faculty members have signed up to be targets, and many students are already working on their aim. All fundraising efforts are organized and paid for by me personally, and do not come out of money raised for the award. In the spirit of the award, all events have been kept ‘art-related’, including a North Bay Art Association + Northern Ontario Art Association 1-year membership raffle, and a series of Life Drawing Sessions hosted for the NBAA, local artists and FAVA faculty members. There has been discussion about a potential art sale and fundraiser, and in the new academic term I will be calling upon the art club, North Bay Art Student Collective to get involved as well.”
Of course, Symington is not alone in her support for students; many faculty and staff members at Nipissing have created similar awards, and their continued generosity is deeply appreciated by the university and students.
If you would like to support Leah's award, you can do so online by visiting www.nipissingu.ca/donate.
If you would like to learn more about how you can support other areas of the University, please contact Andrea Parolin andreapa@nipissingu.ca or 474-3450 ext 4665.
The last word goes to Symington:
“I would like to extend my sincerest thanks to the Nipissing University Fine Arts Faculty, Communications Office, Development and Alumni Relations Office, North Bay Art Association, and to my friends and family, for all of their support in this endeavour. I would also like to thank the FAVA students for the wonderful enthusiasm and sense of community that they bring to the Arts Department, making it such a great place to be.”