The Toronto Regional Real Estate Board (TRREB) and its member realtors are supporting high school students pursuing post-secondary education with the TRREB Past President’s Scholarship.
Since the program’s 2007 inception, 73 students have received a total of $264,500 to put toward their futures.
‘TRREB member realtors are helping to open doors … empowering students to pursue their dreams’
To qualify, each student must write a compelling essay dealing with key issues in the real estate industry, and the winners can win one of two $5,000 first-place, $2,500 second-place, $2,000 third-place and $1,500 fourth-place prizes.
“TRREB member realtors are helping to open doors beyond real estate. We’re empowering students to pursue their dreams with our Past President’s Scholarship. The longevity of this initiative is a testament to how the real estate industry truly cares about giving back and making a difference,” says TRREB president, Jennifer Pearce.
Award-winning essays and their proposed industry solutions
First place
The first-place winners are Tejiri Inikori and Dev Katyal. Inikori’s essay addresses the challenges of housing affordability in the Greater Golden Horseshoe and the flexibility renting offers individuals and families. Inikori is heading to Queen’s University for its kinesiology program.
Katyal’s essay proposes three solutions to tackle the housing affordability crisis: revisiting zoning, more purpose-built rentals and providing support for vulnerable households. This fall, Katyal will study computer science at the University of Waterloo.
Second place
In second place are Daniel Tan and Jaden da Silva. Tan’s essay explores what’s needed to accommodate our growing population. Tan is attending the University of Western Ontario for computer science and Ivey Business School in the fall.
da Silva’s essay compares housing in Tokyo and Austria and how these regions address building more homes and affordability. da Silva will attend the University of Toronto and major in neuroscience and economics.
Third place
The third-place winners are Elisa Gabriele and Ethan Berger. Gabriele’s essay uncovers if the rental market is keeping up with the growing demand for housing. Gabriele will attend the University of Waterloo this fall for architectural engineering.
Berger’s essay discusses government and its efforts to get more shovels in the ground. Berger will attend the University of Guelph to study animal science.
Fourth place
Yulia Senyuk took the fourth-place award. Senyuk’s essay highlights the rising cost of renting and the impact this is having on consumer debt. Senyuk enrolled in the Schulich School of Business at York University.
Learn more about TRREB’s Past President’s Scholarship, including when to apply for the 2025 program.
