Supporting diversity and inclusion

Alumni offer Waterloo Engineering scholarship for 2SLGBTQ+ students  - By Carol Truemner Faculty of Engineering - Looking back on their undergraduate years, Michelle Liu (she/her) and Allie Kennington (they/them) wish there had been more on-campus support and mentorship for them as 2SLGBTQ+ engineering students. As alumni, Liu (BASc '18 and MASc '20, civil engineering) and Kennington (BASc '19 and MASc '22, geological engineering), are now providing their support through  the Liu-Kennington Award for the 2SLGBTQ+ Engineering Community , the first of its type for this specific group offered at any Faculty of Engineering in Canada. Launched last year, the $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to an undergraduate student enrolled in year two, three or four in any Waterloo Engineering program. Selection is based on positive contributions to the 2SLGBTQ+ community through extracurricular or volunteer involvement. Committed to diversity and inclusion. As an undergraduate student, Kennington found Liu to be welcoming in her advocacy efforts for equity-seeking groups by encouraging students to become involved with various initiatives.  "Michelle was eventually president of the departmental engineering undergraduate society and I was a class representative. She kept me on track by reminding me to come to meetings," Kennington said.