When Jed Manaloto first learned he’d received the Gary Coleman Award for Inner City Scholars, one feeling stood out: relief. 

“When I stumbled upon the email saying I’d gotten the award, I felt the burden ease right away,” he said. 

The first-year Information Security student had been preparing to apply for student aid when he discovered his education at RRC Polytech would be fully covered, thanks to the generosity of Gary Coleman and the scholarship he established in 2019. 

“This scholarship program is a way of saying thank-you and giving back to the community, because the community has been very kind to me over the years,” Coleman has said. 

The Gary Coleman Award was created to remove financial barriers for students from Winnipeg’s inner-city schools who have demonstrated academic excellence. Its goal is to provide “full ride” support, allowing students in business, technology, and information security programs to focus on their studies and career development without the stress of paying for tuition, supplies, textbooks and other necessary supports. 

“We started small, which has given us the time to fine tune the program in terms of criteria and the selection process,” said Coleman. “While the program stalled during Covid, it is now growing, with the goal of supporting even more students over the next decade and beyond.”

A Pathway to Cyber Security 

Manaloto’s passion for cyber security began in his first year at Sisler High School. 

“I focused on cyber security for all four years in high school, and decided to continue on this pathway,” he said. “With all the work I’d done at Sisler, I was able to get direct entry into the post-grad program at RRC Polytech.” 

Sisler offers Canada’s first Network and Cyber Security Academy, which equips students with technical and soft skills to thrive in the digital economy. While graduates are considered job-ready, Manaloto wanted additional training to strengthen his career prospects. 

“This program stuck out to me because of the history it has, with lots of Sisler cyber security students choosing this path. It felt like an extension of what I was pursuing at Sisler.” 

Overcoming barriers 

Manaloto and his family moved to Winnipeg five years ago after living briefly in London, Ontario, following their immigration from the Philippines. As newcomers, finances were tight. 

“I was all set to apply for a job just to support my education, when I found the award and saw that I was eligible to apply for it.” 

The scholarship is available to graduates of eight inner-city schools in Winnipeg who have been accepted into select RRC Polytech programs, including Applied Accounting, Business Administration, Application Development and Delivery, Data Science and Machine Learning, IT Operations, and Information Security. 

The award and its far-reaching impacts

Past recipients of the Gary Coleman Award include Selina and Semhar Gerezgiher (Business Administration/Applied Accounting), Cedrick Maglaque (Application Development and Delivery), Raven Tiroy (Business Information Technology), and Regina Arroza (Business Administration). 

“Receiving the Gary Coleman Award has been incredibly meaningful. It eased financial stress and allowed me to focus fully on my studies. More importantly, it gave me a strong sense of encouragement,” said Semhar Gerezgiher, who plans to pursue a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Manitoba’s Asper School of Business after completing her program. “Knowing that the College and the donor believe in my potential has boosted my confidence and motivated me to keep striving for excellence in my academic and career goals.”

Semhar’s sister Selina, another recipient, agrees: “Receiving the Gary Coleman Award didn’t just help pay for my post-secondary education, it genuinely helped me discover my career path,” she said. “Before this scholarship, I was someone who tended to play it safe. I probably would have chosen a field like nursing, even if it didn’t align with my passions, and ended up unhappy in the long run. This award gave me the freedom to explore different areas in my studies without worrying about financial pressure. Through that exploration, I discovered a passion for business that I didn’t even realize I had. It shifted my goals too; I’m no longer motivated only by wanting to make my immigrant family proud. I now have a clear vision for my future.”

“Because of the opportunities this scholarship opened up, I was also able to gain meaningful experience through the Students Temporary Employment Program with the Government of Manitoba, where I applied the business knowledge I’ve been building. This award didn’t just support my education, it changed the direction of my life.” – Selina Gerezgiher

“Receiving the Gary Coleman award has impacted me a lot,” echoes Cedrick Maglaque, whose parent was suddenly unable to work, leaving the family unable to provide the necessary financial support. “I then had to start working different jobs in order to help pay for school costs and also help at home with certain bills. Due to that, I was honestly struggling to focus on my studies.

“Receiving this award significantly helped to reduce my financial burden and allowed me to concentrate on my studies more. It has motivated me to keep pushing harder and continue working hard towards my goals. I’m so very thankful to have been considered to receive the award.”

Looking Ahead 

Winning the award has allowed Manaloto to focus on his studies and participate in extracurricular activities, such as “capture the flag” cyber security competitions that sharpen his technical skills. 

“If I didn’t get the award I’d be thinking of job applications right now, but now I can focus on certifications in the field because I have the extra time to study,” he said. 

As for the future, Manaloto is keeping his options open. 

“After I graduate, I’m going to do my best to look for a job in the industry,” he said. “I’m hoping to get my foot in the door and see where it takes me.” 

For more information about the Gary Coleman Award for Inner City Scholars, please click here.