Roy Cooper Scholarship Recipients
George Davidson
Recipient of the 2025 Roy Cooper Memorial Scholarship
Program:
Beginning a Bachelor of Applied Science at the University of British Columbia.
Spotlight on George
George Davidson shows perseverance, creativity, and leadership. Living with dyslexia, a specific learning disability, he has turned challenges into strengths and discovered a passion for robotics and coding. He has inspired his peers through leadership and mentoring. Now beginning his studies in Computer Engineering at UBC, George continues to show the remarkable potential of students with learning disabilities.
Highlights:
- Honour Roll graduate with strong achievement in STEM courses.
- Passionate about robotics and coding — from building his first computer at age 13 to leading his school Robotics team and founding a Coding Club.
- Active in extracurriculars and community, including mentoring peers and supporting students with learning differences.
- Demonstrates perseverance and self-advocacy in navigating dyslexia, a specific learning disability in reading and writing, while achieving academic success.
- Recognized for leadership and resilience as the 2025 recipient of the Roy Cooper Memorial Scholarship.
- Aspires to pursue Computer Engineering at UBC with a focus on innovation and applied sciences.
Ariya Palonen
Program:
Accepted into Honours Architectural Engineering, Co-op at the University of Waterloo.
Highlights:
- Honour Roll student with exceptional academic results in STEM subjects.
- Active in extracurriculars including Coding Club, Swim Team, and student leadership roles.
- Works as a lifeguard and swim instructor, supporting children, adults, and individuals with disabilities.
- Passionate about sustainable and accessible building design.
Roy Cooper Memorial Scholarship
Deadline for submission: Friday, June 26, 2026, by 4:00 PM
The Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario (LDAO) proudly offers the annual Roy Cooper Memorial Scholarship, a $1,000 award honouring the memory of Roy V. Cooper, a long-time volunteer and advocate within both his local LDA chapter and the provincial organization.
This scholarship recognizes an Ontario high school student with a documented learning disability as their primary diagnosis who is pursuing postsecondary studies in engineering or physical sciences.
Eligibility Criteria:
- Must be a full-time high school student during the 2025–2026 academic year
- Must be entering the first year of a bachelor’s program in engineering or a physical sciences discipline (please note: physical sciences do not include social sciences or technology-focused programs)
- Must be accepted into a recognized postsecondary institution for the 2026–2027 academic year
How to Apply:
- Applications must be submitted to your local LDA chapter
- Each chapter will nominate one student to advance to the provincial selection process
- Find your local chapter here: www.ldao.ca/lda-in-canada/ldao-chapters
- Contact your local chapter to request an application form
If you do not have an active chapter in your area, please contact us using below form to inquire about eligibility