Two fourth-year Laurentian University students were named recipients of the inaugural Leo Gerard Scholarship.
Mikaela Cheslock and Caitlyn Cross are in the Sudbury university's workplace and labour studies program, according to a United Steelworkers (USW) news release, Oct. 2.
The scholarship, established in honour of the legendary Sudbury-born labour leader and the president emeritus of the United Steelworkers International, is awarded to students in the program on the basis of academic merit and community engagement.
Mikaela Cheslock is majoring in workplace and labour studies with a minor in law and justice.
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Caitlyn Cross is in the business administration program majoring in human resources with a minor in workplace and labour studies.
Both are the dean’s list and both will be pursuing graduate studies in labour issues next year.
The Leo Gerard Legacy Fund was created earlier this year with contributions made by the USW’s Canadian National Office, District 6 Office (Ontario and Atlantic Canada), its two Sudbury-based local unions – Locals 6500 and 2020 – and the Sudbury and District Labour Council.
The fund supports the annual student scholarships as well as a lecture series featuring nationally and internationally renowned experts on issues affecting working people and organized labour.
Leo Gerard and USW Local 6500 President Nick Larochelle participated in the inaugural scholarship award ceremony, which was held via Zoom due to COVID-19 safety protocols.
Gerard retired in July 2019 after serving 18 years as USW international president. He studied economics and political science at Laurentian and received an honorary doctorate of laws degree from the university in 1994.
