Humphrey Law, a graduate of Carleton University’s Bachelor of Commerce program, has established a substantial bursary in support of Indigenous students at Carleton University: the Humphrey Law Bursary for Indigenous Students in Business.
This $500,000 endowed bursary, which is now accepting applications, will be awarded annually to an Indigenous student in financial need entering Carleton’s Sprott School of Business and will cover full tuition and fees for the student’s first year of study.
“I have a great respect for the increased barriers that Indigenous students face in pursuing education,” shared Law. “I wanted to ensure that what I put in place would be significant to these students, allowing them to experience the value of a Carleton education.”
This generous bursary, supported with matching funds from Carleton, will help break down barriers to education and positively impact the educational experience and learning outcomes of Indigenous students—allowing them to focus entirely on their studies without the added pressures of financial constraints or part-time employment.
The award is available to Indigenous students entering any undergraduate program of study within the Sprott —a decision based on Law’s own past as a business student and the belief that innovation and entrepreneurship are key learning pillars that will empower students to make a difference in their own communities.
“We are so grateful to Mr. Law for his generosity in establishing this award,” said Dana Brown, dean of the Sprott School of Business. “This considerable bursary will enable Indigenous students to grow, learn and develop into the business leaders of tomorrow. Mr. Law’s commitment to advancing inclusion and prosperity for all aligns with our values within Sprott and within the larger Carleton community.”
“Indigenous socio-economic health and well-being can be realized through the creation of successful Indigenous ventures owned and operated by Indigenous communities and entrepreneurs,” said Rick Colbourne, Sprott’s assistant dean, Equity and Inclusive Communities, and assistant professor, Indigenous Leadership and Management. “I am very excited about this bursary because it enables us to welcome more Indigenous students into our programs and to support them to be successful in their studies.”
Law previously established two other bursaries at Carleton. In 2013, he established the Y.P. Law (Law Yan Pak) Memorial Bursary to honour his late father’s commitment to education and leadership in the education system in Hong Kong. In 2018, he created the Thomas Jeyes Memorial Bursary in loving memory of his lifelong partner, Tom, who also greatly valued education.
Both bursaries are awarded annually to students in any program of study at Carleton, based on need.
“For me, it’s not just about academics; it’s about giving an opportunity to a student who wouldn’t normally have been given a chance to reach their potential and goals,” said Law.