Five Black students will complete a paid work term at Hydro One

 

Each gets $5,000 scholarship from William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award program. Award was name after Toronto’s first Black elected official

Top: Benie Matoka, Mabondo Guled, Mohamed, Joelle Weir, Bott.: Itohansose Itua Priscilla Sarpomaa and William Peyton Hubbard

(From left to right) Benie Matoka Mabondo, Guled Mohamed, Joelle Weir, Itohansose Itua and Priscilla Sarpomaa.

Last Monday, Hydro One announced five recipients of the William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award, who will receive a $5,000 scholarship and an opportunity to complete a paid work term at the company. The William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award is Hydro One’s longest-standing scholarship to date, celebrating its 30th anniversary this year. The award was created in honour of William Peyton Hubbard, Toronto’s first Black elected official, and his contributions to the development of a hydroelectric power network in Ontario.

“We are committed to building an equitable and inclusive workplace at Hydro One, and are proud to recognize and support these outstanding students as they pursue careers in the electricity industry,” said Megan Telford, Chief Human Resources Officer, Hydro One. “Congratulations to this year’s recipients of the William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award, and best of luck in all future endeavors.”

This year’s recipients are:

  • Benie Matoka Mabondo, University of Waterloo, Mechatronics Engineer. Benie grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where electricity and clean water were not accessible to everyone, and she has since made it her mission to help her community.
  • Guled Mohamed, Carleton University, Computer Science. Guled is in his second year at Carleton University, and he’s an active volunteer in his local community as a student tutor and teaching assistant at his local Somali Heritage School.
  • Itohansose Itua, University of Waterloo, Mechatronics Engineer.
    In her third year at the University of Waterloo, Itohansose is passionate about helping others. At the beginning of the pandemic, she 3-D printed parts for reusable PPC face shields and donated them to healthcare workers.
  • Joelle Weir, University of Toronto, Environmental Chemistry and Journalism. Joelle is an advocate for the environment, and she’s double majoring in Environmental Chemistry and Journalism. Her podcast, A Future for Us, has reached a global audience, sparking meaningful social conversations and environmental journalism using audio storytelling. 
  • Priscilla Sarpomaa, Conestoga College, Mechanical Systems Engineer.
    Priscilla has been a member of the National Society of Black Engineers since high school, and she uses her free time to educate young people about personal finance. Currently pursuing a degree in Mechanical Systems Engineering, Priscilla hopes to one day become a Financial Engineer.
William Peyton Hubbard

For the past 30 years, Hydro One has awarded the William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award to Black post-secondary students for their outstanding achievements in and dedication to pursuing studies within disciplines related to the electricity industry. Students attending an Ontario college or university who have completed at least one year in one of the following areas are invited to apply: Electrical, Mechanical, Civil or Environmental Engineering/Technology, Computer Science, Forestry, Business or Information Technology.

Students interested in applying to Hydro One’s William Peyton Hubbard Memorial Award can visit: hydroone.com/oneawards. Applications are due October 1, 2022.