Erin Arbuckle’s Path from EKO Scholar to Helping Kids

When Erin Arbuckle received her Empowered Kids Ontario Scholarship in 2024, she was pursuing her passion for the arts. 

Today, she’s blending that love of performance with a new focus: helping kids thrive.

From the Stage to the Classroom

Erin completed the Performing Arts program at Algonquin College last year. It was a one-year program, but it left a lasting impact.

“It reminded me how much I love acting and that I can do it as a career,” Erin says. The skills and lessons she learned from her professors gave her the confidence to keep acting on the side, something she plans to continue.

Now, she’s taking her journey in a new direction. Erin is currently enrolled in Algonquin’s Early Childhood Educator program.

After finishing the two-year diploma, she plans to continue in the Child and Youth program. Her ultimate goal? To work with children and families at CHEO (Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario), where she can support children and families during some of their toughest times.

A Supportive Start

Reflecting on her Performing Arts program, Erin describes her experience as amazing. At first, she had to adjust to college life, like keeping track of class times without the school bells she was used to. But her peers and professors helped her feel at home.

“The professors were great at making me feel comfortable, and that it was okay that I had a disability,” she shares.

Learning to Stay Organized and Patient

Like many students, Erin discovered some important lessons in college. One of the biggest? The importance of self-organization. Without professors reminding her about assignments, she learned to rely on calendars and planning to stay on track.

She also realized that assignments and exams don’t have to feel overwhelming. “Even though it seems like a lot, I just need to have patience in myself and take the projects or tests or exams one step at a time,” Erin says. It’s a positive mindset that will help her in every aspect of life.

Advice for Future Scholars

When it comes to providing advice to those applying for the EKO Scholarship, Erin has some practical advice: give your reference writers plenty of time. “The person you choose might be very busy, and they’ll need time to write the amazing reference letter that you deserve,” she says.

EKO Scholar Victoria Chen Embraces New Beginnings After Graduation

For Victoria Chen, completing her post-secondary education at the University of Ottawa marked the start of an exciting new chapter in her life.

Having graduated in June 2025, she considers her time in post-secondary as “challenging but ultimately rewarding.” Through this experience, she discovered “that managing my energy is a major component of managing my time.”

By learning when to rest and how to prioritize her health, Victoria built the foundation for time management.

Turning Her Education Into Opportunity

With Victoria’s professional degree now complete, she is proud to have achieved a key milestone toward her career goals.

“I’ve earned the degree required for my career,” she says, “but I’ve also learned transferable skills like time management and effective communication that I’ll continue to use.”

These skills, along with her ingrained determination and adaptability, will guide her throughout her life, a major step toward turning her education into real-world impact.

Victoria's Advice for Future Scholars 

Victoria’s advice for new Empowered Kids Ontario scholarship applicants is simple and empowering.

“Don’t let opportunities pass you by. Always give it a try and see what happens.”

Her words serve as a reminder that when a new experience comes your way, say ‘yes’ and see where life takes you.

At Empowered Kids Ontario, we celebrate graduates like Victoria Chen, who has a bright future built on perseverance and curiosity.

The Next Chapter With EKO Scholar Bryce Desrochers

When Bryce Desrochers graduated in June 2025, he jumped right into something he’s always loved, graphic design. Today, Bryce is a freelance designer, already taking on clients and handing out his own business cards.

His favourite thing to work on? Logos that are clever and creative. “I like using objects [in designs],” he says. “Like if there’s a baseball team with an ‘O’ in the name, I’ll make that ‘O’ into a baseball.”

Student Life at Algonquin College

Bryce says his time at Algonquin College was a really positive experience. The school made sure he had the equipment he needed, even covering the cost of a replacement computer when his stopped working. “They bent over backwards for me,” he explains.

Of course, there were challenges. Some professors weren’t sure what Bryce could do because he uses a wheelchair. In one particular case, Bryce reached out to the Centre for Accessible Learning, received the support he needed, and ultimately passed the class with an A–.

Looking back, Bryce says that moment helped change how others see students with disabilities. “One of my professors told me I broke down a lot of barriers,” he says. Bryce has even paid it forward, giving a campus tour to another student who uses a wheelchair and is starting the same program this fall.

Building Skills and Confidence

Bryce has been using computers since grade school, when he relied on PowerPoint instead of writing by hand.

Over the years, he has improved those skills, and studying graphic design has given him new tools to share his creativity with clients. “It opened my eyes to more things I can do and helped me look more professional,” he says.

Advice for Future Scholars

For students thinking about applying for the EKO Scholarship, Bryce has some advice: take your time with your essay and choose people who really know you well for your references. And most of all, don’t be afraid to share your story.

Bryce also wanted to share a thank-you: “The scholarship helped me through my whole first year of Algonquin.”

Do You Want to Apply to Be an EKO Scholar?

If you want to learn more about the benefits of being an EKO scholar and the application process, learn more here.

Owen DiManno Proves That Real Learning Happens Outside of the Classroom

For EKO Scholar Owen DiManno, post-secondary education at Durham College was much more than lectures and exams. It was a life-changing experience that shaped who he is.

“I went in a little nervous, unsure of what to expect,” he admits, “but I came out with so much more than just an education. I gained lifelong friends, built connections I never imagined, and learned things that stretched way beyond textbooks.”

Learning Beyond the Classroom

Owen describes his time in school as “Incredible! Truly some of the most impactful years of my life so far. I went in a little nervous, unsure of what to expect, but I came out with so much more than just an education.”

“I learned how to navigate life more independently, ask for help when needed, and balance school, work, and life in a way that worked for me,” he says. “I also became more confident in who I am, especially as someone living with a disability. I learned to advocate for myself and others in ways I never used to.”

That confidence became the foundation for his next steps.

Finding Clear Purpose

The post-secondary experience helped Owen discover not just what he wanted to do, but why he wanted to do it. “My education gave me the confidence to chase goals I once thought were out of reach,” he says.

Through volunteering, class projects and school placements, Owen connected his learning to making an impact in the developmental services sector, where he feels most at home.

“It gave me purpose and a clear sense of where I want to make a difference,” he says.

Owen’s Advice for Future EKO Scholarship Applicants

When it comes to providing advice for new Empowered Kids Ontario scholarship applicants, Owen recommends being authentic and courageous. “Be proud of who you are and don’t hold back,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to share your story—your challenges, your dreams, what makes you you. That’s what makes your application powerful.”

And once you’re at college or university, he adds, make the most of every moment. “Try new things. Talk to new people. Join that club, go to that event, raise your hand in class. Life is so beautiful when you step out of your comfort zone.”

At Empowered Kids Ontario, we’re proud to support amazing youth like Owen! Those who not only work hard in their studies but also inspire others to keep taking steps forward.

EKO Scholar Keira Gayowsky Builds a Future of Justice, Growth and Giving Back

When Keira Gayowsky received her Empowered Kids Ontario Scholarship in 2024, she knew it would help her fund her post-secondary education.

What she couldn’t have predicted was how much her journey at the University of Guelph would shape not just her studies, but her perspective on life, advocacy and the future she’s building.

A Busy Student Life

As of the fall of 2025, Keira is just over a quarter of the way through her degree in Criminal Justice and Public Policy, with a History minor, and, as she puts it, “a not-so-quiet love affair with Classics on the side.”

This summer, she balanced three online courses, a full-time job, and her work as a President’s Research Assistant in Classical Studies. Her days are filled with caffeine, academic journals, and reminders to rest, but she’s learning to find a balance between ambition and accessibility.

Her goal? “To keep growing – as a student, an advocate, a writer, and a leader. And to make sure that, wherever I go, I’m always giving back.”

Lessons Beyond the Classroom

University hasn’t just been about lectures and assignments. For Keira, it’s been both “a battleground and a blessing.”

She’s had to push for accommodations, advocate for accessible spaces and explain her needs repeatedly. Keira explains, “It’s tiring, and you can feel invisible. And yet, it’s also in the same breath empowering.”

Alongside these struggles have come incredible memories, such as late-night Interhall Council meetings, Formula 1 watch parties, trivia nights, joining a sorority, and even donning a bull mascot costume at centre ice.

She has laughed, cried, published a poem about chronic illness and stood proudly to read her work aloud to a crowd with her mom cheering her on. “Most of all, I lived,” Keira says.

Finding Her Voice

Keira’s studies are sharpening more than her academic skills. They’re helping her define the kind of person she wants to be. Her schoolwork in classrooms, research and student leadership roles all focus on advocacy and justice. She has learned that change doesn’t have to wait until after graduation or a new job title. It can start with a conversation, a poem or a meeting.

“Justice isn’t just something to study, it’s something to demand, to design, to live by,” she explains. Every step of her education has affirmed her voice and shown her how to use it.

Advice for Future Scholars

When asked what she would say to new EKO Scholarship applicants, Keira’s message is clear: don’t minimize your story.

“This scholarship isn’t just about marks or milestones. It’s about who you are when the cameras are off. Share the messy parts, the brave parts, the parts you’re still figuring out. Because that’s where your power lives.”

And most importantly, she reminds students interested in pursuing studies after high school, “Your needs are not a burden. You belong in every classroom, every meeting, every boardroom.”

Looking Ahead

As Keira continues her studies, she’s focused on a future that combines ambition with accessibility and making sure her growth always contributes to her community.

With her passion for justice, advocacy, and storytelling, there’s no doubt Keira will continue to inspire others along the way.

Empowered Kids Ontario Scholar Kim Mantha Inspires Others to Stay Consistent and Keep Growing

For Empowered Kids Ontario scholar Kim Mantha, university has been more than a place to learn; it has been a place to grow, connect, and discover resilience.

Now in her second year at the University of Ottawa, Kim is studying History and Political Science, although she’s still determining her future path. “We’ll see if I change programs; however, I am determined to complete my degree,” Kim says.

This determination has already taken her far. Over the summer, Kim worked at Indigenous Services Canada. On campus, she’s deeply involved in student leadership and is the Director for Indigenous Students at the Indigenous Students’ Association and the University of Ottawa Students’ Union, Vice President of Internal Affairs for the Student Association of the Faculty of Arts, and the Infinite Reach Facilitator for the Métis Nation of Ontario!

She says, “These positions will better help me help with the student life and experience here on campus. On top of all of this, I am also involved in various activities on and off campus.”

Learning Balance at University

Like many first-year students, Kim’s transition to university wasn’t easy. Coming from a small high school graduating class of 25 students, she found herself in huge lecture halls of 300! On top of that, she took on a heavy course load despite her doctor’s advice to ease back. 

“It was rough,” Kim admits. But the experience was an important lesson. “I learned that I need to acquire more time management skills when it comes to my school work. In other spaces, this is less of a struggle; however, I wish to succeed in the upcoming years, so I hope to deepen those skills.”

Discovering Purpose By Helping Others

Through her first year, Kim discovered what truly drives her: creating safe and inclusive spaces for others. “I still have a passion for helping out others,” she says. “I have realized that it was one of my strengths and that I love helping out and ensuring others have safe and inclusive spaces.”

Her leadership roles across campus are focused on that same passion, whether she’s organizing events, supporting Indigenous students, or building bridges between communities.

Advice for Future EKO Scholars

Mantha’s advice for Empowered Kids Ontario scholarship applicants is simple but powerful: get involved and stay consistent.

She encourages students to attend classes, go to campus events, and find study spots they can return to regularly.

Kim also highlights the importance of physical activity, which has played a big role in managing her chronic pain. “I have always been the type of person who didn’t like to work out,” she says. “But I was able to access the gym since it was included in my student fees. I decided to give it a chance and started going consistently, and I have noticed that gaining strength in my arms and hands helps me manage my hand shaking, which is one of the many side effects of my chronic pain.”

Now, even on hard days, Kim reminds herself why it matters, “Even when I don’t want to go work out, I tell myself that it helps in other aspects of my quality of life, so I should keep going.” This motivation pushes Kim to stay consistent and continue to manage her chronic pain side effects.

Kim’s story reminds us that success isn’t just about grades or achievements, but about consistently supporting others and finding balance.

Empowered Kids Ontario is proud to support young leaders like Kim who are building a bright future for themselves!