Ben Cohen, left, with father Alon Cohen
“Ben took such pride in his studies. He was very excited about taking part in student life at Concordia,” says Cohen.
“My family thinks the best way to honour Ben is to provide other young adults the chance to study.”
The family established the Ben Cohen Butterfly Bursary, a $1500 award — to be paid over three years — to a newly admitted student in the Department of Communication Studies, where Ben studied from 2010 to 2013.
“In our family, education is very precious. We want to support students who want to further their education,” says Cohen, a native of Israel, of his family's history of giving. “My grandfather, who lost his son, established a student bursary in Israel around 30 years ago."
On the bursary’s name, Cohen explains, “The butterfly has spiritual meaning in many cultures and often refers to the soul.”
“It is our wish that people will take an active role in supporting the bursary and Concordia’s students.”