Computer Science students win life-changing Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship

First-year Computer Science students Annber Verginom and Mya Grosz are the recipients of the 2025 Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship at Toronto Metropolitan University (TMU).

The Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship, with a value up to $100,000, is the largest award available to undergraduate students at TMU in the computer science and computer engineering programs. Each year, two first-year students who combine academic excellence, creativity and leadership are awarded $25,000 each, renewable for up to four years. 

The scholarship was established in honour of Ted Rogers, Canadian entrepreneur and founder of Rogers Communications. Passionate about helping youth reach their full potential, Ted made it his mission to remove economic barriers and support the next generation in their pursuit of higher education. 

“We know that TMU students have the potential to change the world, and awards like the Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship help that potential come to life,” said Jen McMillen, vice-provost, students at TMU. “Annber and Mya embody the curiosity, creativity and drive that define our student community. We’re incredibly proud to see them recognized in such a meaningful way, and to celebrate their achievements as they continue to pursue their ambitions with confidence and purpose.”

Annber Verginom, computer science

Multi-medium artist Annber Verginom applied to the Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship not believing she would actually win. 

“I was in shock, because I’d applied to other scholarships and received multiple rejections saying ‘we regret to inform you that you were not selected,’ she recalled, including a scholarship application that required her to make a prom dress from duct tape. 

Verginom transformed duct tape into a traditional Filipino terno, and drew from themes of the ocean that represent both sides of her family. “My father worked on a cruise ship for almost 30 years and his family comes from our province of Zambales,” she said. “I also completed it with weaving, which is a cultural practice in my mother’s province of Antique.” 

Though Verginom didn’t win the duct tape scholarship, the process and triumph of making the dress and centering it around the love of family was the subject of her application essay for the Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship, and helped her clinch one of the two coveted annual awards.

“My mother said that all of my efforts were worth it and that my hard work paid off,” said Verginom, who emigrated with her parents from the Philippines to Toronto in 2024. “This scholarship removed all my financial stress.” She’s feeling hopeful for her future.

Seeking to apply her creativity to computer science and virtual reality, she said, “Computer science is going to give me the foundational knowledge that I need to understand and thrive in our world where technology continuously evolves, and will equip me with the skills to contribute to our community.” 

She is also looking to explore her interest in the intersections between computer science and health fields such as neuroscience and diseases of the brain, or emerging gene-editing technologies.

Her scholarship funds will go towards tuition, books, living expenses and technology. Her old laptop broke just before she found out she would be a Ted Rogers Legacy Scholar. 

“Thank you, Rogers. Thank you for this prestigious opportunity; I will do my best to succeed,” said Verginom. “I feel very happy and honoured to be recognized for my creative potential. I promised my educators and my family that I would make them proud and earning this scholarship is the beginning of me fulfilling that promise.”

Mya Grosz, Computer Science

As a national level trampolinist and a part-time coach, Mya Grosz was ready to sacrifice training and competing at key events so her parents could direct the funds to her tuition instead. 

She was with a few of her teammates from the Just Bounce Trampoline Club, when she scrolled through her email and discovered she would be a Ted Rogers Legacy Scholar. 

Grosz’s mom drove to pick her up, and she planned on surprising her mother with the news once they arrived home, but Grosz couldn’t contain her joy. 

"I had to tell her. My mom was so excited, and that's what made me the happiest," said Grosz, who feared she would never receive a scholarship. Her mom suggested they frame the screenshot from the TMU email. Her dad, a veteran, was equally thrilled.

“Receiving this award has definitely given me a lot of motivation to maintain my GPA in order to maintain the scholarship,” she said. “Getting this award has also made me feel a bit more confident in my abilities.”

The scholarship will cover the costs of Grosz’s tuition, textbooks and living expenses, plus the latest personal computer tech to support her studies in computer science. 

“I’m just so happy,” said Grosz. She extended her thanks to her high school teachers, who served as her references for the scholarship application. “I can’t wait to visit and see them again. And I want to share my heartfelt appreciation to Rogers.” 

Explaining her choice to study computer science, Grosz described the thrill of coding: “When I write code from scratch, and then discover a syntax error, it’s frustrating to fix. But once I figure it out, it’s the best feeling ever.” 

In the short term, Grosz plans on joining TMU’s recreational trampoline club and figuring out how to be more involved in school activities to enjoy the full university experience, alongside her continuous participation in national-level trampolining. In the long term, she’s excited to weigh her options to pursue a career in digital media, or as a software developer, or combining her background in tech with law. With each direction, the future looks bright.

How to apply to the Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship at TMU

The Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship at TMU is a transformative investment in student potential – empowering recipients to pursue their studies with confidence, breaking down financial barriers, and shaping futures that will define the next generation of innovators. 

For prospective students who have applied to be a student at TMU, the Ted Rogers Legacy Scholarship application for Fall 2026 is available on AwardSpring (external link) . Applications close February 1, 2026.