Phyllis P Harris Undergraduate Scholarship
About the Scholarship
This scholarship is an annual award of $2,600, endowed in the memory of Phyllis P. Harris. For over thirty years Phyllis Harris was an inspiring presence in the world of family planning, volunteering both her time and services in Edmonton and throughout Canada.
Application procedure
Eligibility: You must be enrolled as a full-time student in 3rd or 4th year at the undergraduate level at a Canadian University during the 2011-2012 academic year. Applicants must also be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant. All applicants must have previous work or volunteer experience in the general field of human sexuality with the intent to pursue a degree in the field of family planning or population issues. The field is broadly defined to include biology, education, history, medicine, political science, psychology, international studies, social work or sociology.
Procedure: You must include your most recent academic transcript, a 500 word typed essay, outlining your relevant background education, objectives and plans for the future. Candidates must also clearly state their support of the values and beliefs of the Canadian Federation for Sexual Health.
Your name, address, telephone number and email address must appear at the top of the application. To be included in the application package are two letters of reference, as well as the name, address, and telephone number of each of the candidate's two referees. Each letter must be individually sealed in an envelope, and signed on the seal by the appropriate referee.
Please note:
The application proccess for 2012-2013 will be changing. Please stay tuned - more information coming soon.
Phyllis P. Harris Scholarship Committee
Canadian Federation for Sexual Health
2197 Riverside Dr. Suite: 403 Ottawa, ON K1H 7X3
Telephone: (613) 241-4474 FAX: (613) 241-7550
Current and Past Winners
2011-2012 Winner: Emily Coates
Emily is a fourth year student in the Bachelor of Social Work program at the University of Regina. She is proudly pro-choice and queer positive as her work and volunteer experiences demonstrate. She has worked and volunteered for a variety of sexual health focused organizations including working in the areas of: LGBTT2IQQ health, healing from childhood sexual abuse, providing sexual health workshops to University and High School students, and as a worker in a sexual health centre. She hopes to pursue a Masters of Social Work, and to one day become the Executive Director of her own sexual health centre or Planned Parenthood.
2010-2011 Winner: Jake Pyne
Jake Pyne has experience working, volunteering, and carrying out research in the field of sexual and reproductive health for the past 15 years. Jake’s work encompasses the areas of sexual assault prevention, sexual health education, and advocacy for services in the trans community. Jake has volunteered with the Ottawa Rape Crisis Centre and the Sexual Education Resource Centre (SERC); he has worked on a number of sexual health-related projects, including Teen Talk and Trans PULSE; and he has worked as a sexual health educator as part of an additional project called Speak Up. Currently, Jake’s work focuses on determining the accessibility of reproductive technology for trans people who wish to become parents, as well as the availability of supports for trans people who are already parents. Jake is currently in his fourth year of a Bachelor of Social Work program at Ryerson University. Upon completing his B.S.W., Jake intends to pursue a Masters of Social Work, and possibly a PhD.
2009-2010 Winner: Ayden Scheim
Ayden Scheim is pursuing an undergraduate degree in Sociology, focusing on emerging sexual health issues for trans and gay men, through a social determinants of health framework. Ayden has been involved as a volunteer with a number of sexual health education, research, and outreach programs, including Teens Educating and Confronting Homophobia program through Planned Parenthood Toronto and the Ontario Gay Men's Sexual Health Alliance. Ayden plans to complete his undergraduate degree and continue his academic pursuits through both an MA and a PhD. He is committed to continuing to promote sexual health and choice for marginalized communities through engaged scholarship, connecting community–based sexual health work with academic research.
2008-09 Winner: Jane Haywood-Farmer
Jane Haywood-Farmer is currently enrolled in her third year at the University of Toronto for Nursing. Jane is committed to the delivery of sexual health education and the promotion of healthy sexuality as well as the freedom of sexual expression and reproductive choice as a fundamental human right for people of all ages and sexual identities.
2007-08 Winner: Cassandra Jones
Cassandra Jones is currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Psychology Program at Athabaska University. Cassandra is committed to assisting sexual abuse survivors with recovery and providing the population with education and awareness about sexual abuse and violence against women. Upon graduating, Cassandra hopes to complete a Masters and Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology. Congratulations Cassandra!
2006-07 Winner: Nathalie Saad
Nathalie Saad is enrolled in the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Calgary. Upon graduating in 2007, Nathalie plans to be a family physician dedicated to caring for the full spectrum of the Canadian Population. Nathalie holds the belief that sexuality is an integral part of the human psyche and of overall health and wellness, and must be nurtured throughout life. Congratulations Nathalie!
2005-06 Winner: Shanyn Simcoe
Shanyn Simcoe is enrolled in the Nursing program at North Island College in Courtenay BC. She has worked in an inner city medical clinic in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and with several youth community development organizations. She worked in a women’s clinic to gain clinical nursing experience in post-abortion care. She plans to gain clinical experience in the area of adolescent and women’s sexual and reproductive health and to become a nurse practitioners in a primary health care setting.
2004-05 Winner: Alicia Boatswain-Kyte
Alicia Boatswain-Kyte is completing a Bachelor degree in Social Work at McGill University, with an interest in working with families. She is a crisis worker on a sexual violence hotline in Montreal, providing counseling and information survivors need to make informed decisions.
2003-04 Winner: Colleen McNamee
Colleen McNamee is currently studying nursing at Dalhousie University and has a strong interest in sexual and reproductive health and women’s issues. She has been a volunteer and intern with Planned Parenthood at the local level and has volunteered in a variety of roles overseas in India, Vietnam, Cambdia and Gambia. Her long-term career goals include a nursing career that integrates health education, community development and social justice.
2002-03 Winner: Erin Rogers
Erin Rogers is working on her honors Bachelor of Science degree in bio-psychology at Mount Allison University.
2001-02 Winner: Maureen Wentzell
Maureen Wentzell is completing a degree at Mount Saint Vincent University in Women’s studies. She has authored several papers on the importance of universal access to reproductive health care in Canada. In addition she has lived and worked with people with physical and intellectual disabilities and volunteered with several women’s groups in Mexico to offer safe and alternative health services. Maureen intends to further her education with a master’s degree in public administration or health policy, and in so doing combine her passion for social justice and women’s health issues.
2000-01 Winner: Naomi Lear
Naomi Lear is a full time student in Psychology at McGill University. She is a volunteer at a rape crisis centre on campus and is interested in the role of healing and support groups for rape survivors through religious institutions. She plans on using this experience when she becomes a medical doctor.
1999-2000 Winner: Kate Greenaway
Kate Greenaway is an undergraduate student at Dalhousie University. She is studying biology with the hope to pursue a future in medicine. Kate has bee a volunteer at Planned Parenthood Metro Clinic since 1997 where she gained knowledge and interest in sexual and reproductive health issues. She is an active volunteer and member on the Board of Directors at the Dalhousie Women’s Centre. She is also a member of the executive for Bisexual, Gay and Lesbian Association at Dalhousie.
1998-99 Winner: Suzie Matteau
Suzie Matteau’s goal is to finish her Master’s in Sexology and pursue teaching and consulting in the field of training, programming and evaluation. She holds an undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sexology. Suzie worked for five years as a sex education workers with community groups and in the private sector. As a health and social services workers, she counseled and promoted sex education to Montreal street children. She also conducted pre-abortion interview with women and their partners at an abortion clinic in Montreal.
1997-98 Winner: Jill Bobbitt
Jill Bobbitt, a resident form Bridgewater, NS was introduced to Planned Parenthood of Bridgewater Second Story Women’s Centre in 1996 by a friend. She felt that there wasn’t enough being done to educate youth about the dangers of sexually transmitted infections. After visiting Planned Parenthood, Jill started to give presentations at local schools. She’s spoken to over 1000 people and remains part of a teen sexuality group, spending a minimum of two hours a week volunteering at Planned Parenthood.
