Sthankiya Family Donor Spotlight

Donor Yash Sthankiya

In May of 2025, the Sthankiya family came together to establish a new award at the University of Winnipeg. Inspired by their shared undergraduate experiences, the family sought to create an award that would provide funding for both academically talented students and those coming to Canada as refugees or belonging to under-represented minority communities.

“As a mature student who came to the University later in life, I found myself looking for a way to support other students who may not have the necessary funding needed to complete their studies,” says Kanchan Sthankiya. “After seeing both my children attend the University and having graduated myself from the institution in 1997, I started thinking seriously about a way that our family might be able to help those with an interest in continuing education.”

After working with the University of Winnipeg Foundation (UWF) in the weeks leading up to the award’s creation this spring, the final step came in June when the family generously gifted $100,000 to the UWF—cementing the newly endowed Y and K Sthankiya Family Award with a continual source of funding that will support deserving students for generations to come.

“I’m happy we were able to support UWinnipeg,” says Rajesh, Kanchan and Yash’s son. “When I chose to start my undergrad, I looked to this university as the comfortable next step—the collegial atmosphere and friends I made after high school had a big impact on my larger academic journey.”

“UWinnipeg is smaller compared to other universities in Canada, which means they also have fewer donors. We wanted to find an educational institution close to home that mattered both to our family and others in the community and help strengthen their priorities through our support.” says Kanchan.

After the fund matures for a year, The Y and K Sthankiya Family Awardwill be given to a pair of students in the Fall of 2027.