Three outstanding young Canadians received the 2025 Ruth Hancock Foundation Scholarships, awarded to applicants who demonstrate strong character and leadership qualities, a willingness to assist others and a genuine interest in pursuing a broadcasting career. Their commitment is reflected through involvement in extra-curricular activities related to broadcasting or broadcast sales and marketing, or through self-initiated undertakings. Sarah Glen, Carolyn Marie Smith, and Esteban Vargas are this year’s award recipients, and have each received a $1,500 scholarship.
Sponsored by the Broadcast Executives Society, the Canadian Association of Broadcasters and the Canadian Association of Broadcast Representatives, the Ruth Hancock Scholarships are designed to encourage talented, hard working students to pursue careers in Canadian broadcasting or broadcast sales/marketing.
Sarah Glen who is currently studying in the Communication and Culture Joint-Graduate Program of Ryerson and York Universities, in Toronto. She chose to pursue graduate studies after spending three years sharing her journalism skills with street-involved youth. Sarah volunteers with Recreate Art Studio, a non-profit art therapy organization that works with youth in Hamilton. She sees a role for media professionals, particularly those in broadcasting, to use their skills to help create a space for youth to interact with their communities.
Carolyn Marie Smith who is a Journalism student majoring in Broadcasting at Ryerson University, while also interning at Q107/AM640 Toronto Radio. Carolyn, or “Carly”, has been recognized for her hard work, her great intelligence, and her natural leadership abilities. Her course director at Ryerson has said that she is “bound for success in broadcast journalism.” Carly has indicated that her long-term goal is to produce her own news/talk radio show on AM640.
Esteban Vargas who is now studying Communications at Concordia University in Montréal. He has considerable experience working with Montréal’s CHOM-FM, CJAD-AM and Mix 96, where his dedicated efforts in a variety of areas earned the respect and appreciation of his colleagues and managers. Through his involvement in a number of documentary-related projects, Esteban has discovered the positive impact the media can have within society. As a result, he would like to pursue this interest in documentaries and take it further.
Ruth Hancock was universally admired in the Canadian broadcasting industry for her diligence, her enthusiasm, her fair-minded approach and her willingness to help others personally and professionally. For 12 years she was manager of the Toronto office of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, and executive secretary of both the Broadcast Executives Society and the Central Canada Broadcasters’ Association. In 1973, Ruth Hancock joined the CTV Network as Director of Promotion and Public Relations, and was appointed that same year as the executive assistant to the President of CTV. She passed away in December of 1973. The criteria on which applicants are judged best exemplify the admirable qualities of Ruth Hancock.
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