Few individuals have shaped the lives of McGill students as profoundly as Judy Stymest, now serving as the Planned Giving Ambassador for Faculty, Staff and Retirees. As the former Director of Scholarships, Student Aid, and International Student Services, Judy dedicated more than 30 years to ensuring students had the support they needed – financially, emotionally, and academically.
“Students are the basis of everything that goes on in that office,” Judy recalls. “I met students from around the world, in every faculty, and at every level.”
Her career spanned decades of global change. Judy welcomed Iranian scholars displaced in 1979, supported hundreds stranded during the 1998 ice storm, and comforted American students grappling with the aftermath of 9/11. Through it all, Judy and her team offered not just aid, but empathy.
“We knew they needed more than just money,” she says. “It’s not just about help, but respect.”
Judy is a trailblazer – the third person and first woman to have held her Director role – and a respected voice on provincial, national, and international committees. She even testified before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Finance on the growing burden of student debt, advocating for systemic change.
Upon her retirement in 2012, colleagues and friends honoured her legacy by establishing the Judy Stymest Bursary, which has already supported 36 students. Now, Judy is deepening her impact by leaving a legacy gift to McGill, ensuring future generations continue to benefit from the support she championed.
“Contributing to the bursary just seemed a logical next step for me,” she says. “It means McGill students will get the support they need when they need it. It’s so important for students to know their university cares.”
Judy’s story is the embodiment of our Leave a Legacy, Unlock a Future challenge. Today, this initiative has released over $250,000 in bursaries thanks to donors who confirmed McGill is in their will. Every legacy gift unlocks opportunities for students, just as Judy has done throughout her life.
“The details have changed over the years,” she reflects, “but the passion, the drive, and the enthusiasm of McGill students have not. To have that richness sit in my office was the best experience.”
Join Judy in unlocking futures. Leave a legacy gift today – and help us support bursaries for tomorrow.