Scholarships at YCI
In 1875, the founder donated $10,000 to the Coleman Scholarship Fund (Second Catalogue, 1875). The Coleman Scholarship Fund was for young men who intended to enter the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. These students were recommended by the Presbytery of Westminster and approved by the faculty and trustees. In 1887, they paid an annual income of $600 each for seven students. In 1892, they provided $150 each for seven students, and in 1926 they provided $160 each for five students.
The Coleman Scholarship Fund was the only scholarship offered to students until 1931, when the Academic Scholarship was introduced (57th Catalogue, 1931). The 1930s saw the start of the Great Depression, which made obtaining a quality education difficult. The new Academic Scholarship allowed students in York city to gain an education previously unavailable to them. Gifted students were able to get an education, giving them an edge for the future that many did not have at the time. As the York Collegiate Institute transitioned into York Junior College, the number of students and scholarships grew.