Our Students
Who are our students
Our Students
Source CUSC survey 2025
The students who come to MaKami College do not fit the traditional picture of a post-secondary learner, and that is exactly why our work matters so deeply. According to the 2025 CUSC survey, the average MaKami College student is 36.9 years old, not 19 like the typical Canadian college student. They are adults who have lived real lives, carried real responsibilities and often faced real hardship. More than half of our students have children, many are married or support families. They are juggling jobs, caregiving and financial pressures while still daring to hope for something better.
Our classrooms reflect the diversity and strength of Alberta today. Most of our students self-identified as racialized. More than half of our students are permanent residents who are still finding their feet in a new country. Many students are navigating language barriers, cultural transitions, and the challenge of starting over. A significant portion of students live with disabilities, and more than one third of students are the first in their families to ever set foot in a post-secondary institution. These students carry not only their own dreams, but they also carry the dreams of their parents, partners, and children.
How MaKami Students Compare
Source CUSC survey 2025
Who MaKami College Serves
students
languages
countries
Source MaKami College Student Directory
Unlike many students across Canada, MaKami College learners are deeply rooted adults who are not living in dorms or relying on family support. Seventy percent of students own or rent their homes, and only a small number live with extended family. These students are working hard to keep their households stable while pursuing an education they know could change everything. Many students carry the weight of poverty, trauma, displacement, discrimination, disability, or the after-effects of injury. In addition, some of these students are newcomers rebuilding their lives, some are Indigenous learners seeking new opportunities, and others have survived human trafficking, struggled with addictions, or faced profound socio-economic hardship. Despite all of this, these students show up every day with determination, resilience and the hope of creating a better future.
This is why the MaKami Education Foundation exists. The foundation steps in where life has put up walls, helping with the necessities that can make or break a student's ability to stay in school. These necessities include financial support for living expenses, ESL training, document translation, job-skills development, career counselling, mental-health support, housing assistance, childcare, and scholarships for tuition, books and basic supplies. These are not considered extras - they are the lifelines that allow our students to keep going.
Your Support Matters
When donors support the foundation, they are not just funding education - they are:
Our learners bring courage, resilience, and an unwavering desire to build a better life. With support behind them, these students do more than graduate - they transform their families, strengthen their communities, and change the future of Alberta and Canada, one determined student at a time.
Our Foundation
The MaKami Education Foundation emerged naturally from MaKami College's long-standing commitment to supporting students whose challenges extended beyond academics. Over the years, it became clear that many learners needed more than a classroom. They needed help with food security, mental health support, financial pressures, and barriers that threatened their ability to stay in school. While MaKami College had been informally providing support wherever possible, the demand grew beyond what the College alone could sustainably offer.
To meet this need, the MaKami Education Foundation was established as a registered charity dedicated to removing barriers to entry and barriers to success for vulnerable learners. The foundation formalizes the wrap-around supports MaKami College has long believed in, ranging from emergency assistance to tutoring, counselling, and essential resources that help students stay on track. It allows MaKami College to partner with donors, community leaders, and organizations who share the belief that education is a transformative tool that can empower individuals and strengthen communities for generations. Built on the founders' values of community, responsibility, and giving back, the foundation ensures that MaKami College's mission continues to expand, reaching even more Albertans who need support to change their lives through education.
Student Stories
I am incredibly honoured and grateful to be a recipient of the prestigious General Hillier Valor and Service Veterans and Military Families Scholarship at MaKami College. This award means so much more than simply financial support. It is a profound affirmation of my hard work and dedication to my studies.
I extend my deepest thanks to the scholarship committee and the generous donors for this life changing opportunity. This award reinforces the invaluable sense of community and mutual support that defined my time in the service. Knowing that my college values the experience of veterans and actively invests in our success is incredibly motivating.
This scholarship reinvigorates my dedication to academic excellence and fuels my desire to contribute positively to the MaKami College community.
Once more, it is a true honour to be recognized by such a distinguished award.
Thank you for this exceptional opportunity. I am proud to carry the distinction of a General Hillier Scholar.
Receiving the MaKami’s VSS Military Spouse Scholarship has been deeply meaningful to me both personally and professionally. As a military spouse, I’m used to putting my own goals on hold, so this scholarship represents not only financial support but also recognition of the dedication and resilience that come with this lifestyle.
I am so grateful to MaKami College for recognizing and honoring the sacrifices of military members and their families. Professionally, this support has given me the opportunity to focus fully on my training without added financial stress, empowering me to pursue a stable and meaningful career that I can take with me wherever military life leads.
[The] Brian Curial award help[ed] me personally boost my self-confidence, personal pride, fulfillment and encourage[d] [my] growth. Th[ese] kinds of awards often push you to set new goals and continue improving.
[From a] professional aspect, it build[s] credibility; awards make you standout and [are] a sign of dedication and achievement that will enhance your portfolio.
Thank you MaKami for choosing me as one of the recipients.
Receiving the Brian Curial Legacy Award has been an incredible honour and a meaningful milestone for me both personally and professionally. On a personal level, it has given me a deep sense of pride and confidence, reinforcing that my hard work, perseverance, and commitment to growth are recognized and valued.
Professionally, this award motivates me to continue striving for excellence in my studies and future career in the medical field. It serves as a reminder of the impact I hope to make in my community and inspires me to uphold the dedication, leadership, and compassion that this scholarship represents.
Thanks,
The Brian Curial Award has had a lasting impact on my career and personal growth. Receiving the funds after completing my studies helped me alleviate student loan debt and [allowed me to] invest in my professional development as a healthcare aide. The financial support and recognition have allowed me to pursue opportunities that aligned with my goals, and I’m grateful for the boost it gave me as I care for others in my community.
Thank you for supporting students like me.