The Foundation has strengthened its partnerships with OCADU and Sheridan College in 2026.
With a new scholarship in Industrial Arts and a new award in Integrated Media, there are now three awards for Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU) students. These new awards are part of a goal of 150 new awards tied to OCADU’s 150th celebration. The first awards in these two disciplines will be given in 2026.
Integrated Media
Integrated Media is a four-year Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree program focusing on technical and creative skills in areas including animation, creative coding, film, installation, interactivity, performance, sound and video.
The program started as a major in 2004. In 2025/2026, total enrolment stood at 165 with 25 students in their first year.
In addition to course work, students also work on a thesis or final project. They showcase their work at OCADU’s GradEx, the largest free art and design exhibition held in Toronto each spring.
This award recognizes an exceptional creative project in Integrated Media completed by a fourth-year student as chosen by OCADU faculty.
Industrial Design
This new scholarship recognizes a second-year student enrolled full-time in OCADU’s Industrial Design Program, a subject which has been taught at the school since 1912. In 2025/2026, 50 students enrolled in first year with 280 students involved in various stages of the program.
The program includes research, concept development and prototype making, as well as studying how people behave to better understand their needs. Students are encouraged to design sustainable products that last many generations, keeping in mind diverse cultures. The four-year program in the Faculty of Design, leads to a Bachelor of Design (Honours—BDes), and includes theory and practical, creative hands-on courses, such as design and drawing.
The Industrial Design program is recognized by the Association of Canadian Industrial Designers.
Sheridan’s Animation Program is world renowned. The Foundation’s excellence in animation production award joins the Charter Women’s Award for vocal music in Sheridan’s Musical Theatre Program. The first recipient of this new award is Selia Zheng.
This new award is given to a full-time domestic third-year student enrolled in Sheridan College’s film cycle (2D, 3D or Stop Motion).
It recognizes a student who demonstrates exceptional leadership, collaboration and production management within the film production environment. Third-year student Production Managers or other key contributors who show initiative, problem-solving, strong communication and meaningful support of their peers are also considered for this award.
The third-year student cohort votes for this award nomination with the final selection being made by Sheridan faculty.
This new award recognizes the reputation of the animation program which has produced seven Academy Award winners over the past 40 years including Domee Shi who won Best Animated Short for Bao in 2019. Graduates have also won Canadian Screen Awards, Emmys and Golden Globes.