EKO - Meet Our 2025 EKO Scholars

Jump to page in section:

Selected through a competitive process, the 2025 EKO Scholars are determined to contribute in positive ways to society. All are pursuing post-secondary education at Ontario universities and colleges, studying chemistry and earth sciences, social work, computer science, museum studies, mechanical engineering, finance and mathematics, as well English and commerce.

Each 2025 EKO Scholar shares their experiences growing up with a disability or with developmental needs, and the benefits they received from treatment. They also shared how being different could be an isolating experience. Each of our scholars demonstrates a self-awareness beyond their years, promise, and a motivation to live their best lives.

We look forward to seeing the impact each EKO Scholar will make in their chosen fields, in their communities, and in our world.

Alaina is wearing a formal red dress. She is standing in front of a tree and smiling at the camera.

Alaina Leben

Congratulations to Alaina – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s embarking on an ambitious academic path by pursuing a combined honours degree in chemistry and Earth sciences with an eye toward postgraduate work after that.

Meet Alaina

Aliyah is wearing a blue and white athletic uniform. She is standing in front of a blue background and smiling at the camera.

Aliyah Phillips

Congratulations to Aliyah – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s building on her devotion to helping others and enrolled in studies at UVic that will lead to Ali becoming a social worker.

Meet Aliyah

Andrew is wearing a blue t-shirt. He is standing in a front of a wooden fence in an open field of grass. He is smiling at the camera.

Andrew Poirier

Congratulations to Andrew – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s on the path to making a professional commitment and going into his third year in the social work program at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Meet Andrew

Corben is wearing a blue Hammerheads jersey with dark pants and black sneakers. He is standing and posing with two golden and red trophies. He is in a gymnasium with light brown flooring and a white wall behind him.

Corben Scarrow

Congratulations to Corben – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s a long-time mentor, coach and program coordinator for the Hammerheads and heading to Nipissing University.

Meet Corben

Declan is wearing a dark blue half-zip sweater with a grey flannel button down underneath. He is looking to the side and smiling. He is sitting in a venue with a window behind him.

Declan Bright

Congratulations to Declan – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s interests in library sciences and archival studies grew over time, ultimately leading him to the Applied Museum Studies program at Algonquin College.

Meet Declan

Rebecca is wearing a dark blue hoodie and has on dark glasses and golden hoop earrings. She is smiling at the camera and standing in front of a backyard patio with dangling lights above her head.

Rebecca Doherty

Congratulations to Rebecca – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s been a math tutor for years is now bound for Bishop’s University in Sherbrooke Quebec, to study finance and mathematics.

Meet Rebecca

Sable is wearing a short-sleeved purple button down with silver earrings and a nose stud. She is smiling into the camera and is standing in front of a faux green bush background.

Sable Pryznyk

Congratulations to Sable - an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar is a natural leader, community builder and storyteller who’s on her way to the University of Ottawa to study English and Commerce.

Meet Sable

J William Tomlinson

Congratulations to William – an Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar who’s dependable, inventive and an adept communicator that’s heading to Carleton University to study mechanical engineering.

Meet J William

OUR MEMBERS