Empower students by making a gift to the Swan Francis Award this UofT Giving Day!

At Woodsworth College, donor support plays a transformative role in empowering students to reach their fullest potential. The Swan Francis Award, created by Woodsworth alum Celeste Francis Esteves to honour her mother’s dedication to education and community, supports Woodsworth College students studying Canadian, Black or Indigenous history, culture or arts, with preference given to Black or Indigenous students.   

As one of Woodsworth’s featured funds for UofT Giving Day, gifts made to the Swan Francis Award will be tripled, amplifying the impact of every contribution. When you make a gift to any featured Woodsworth fund, it will be matched dollar-for-dollar by both U of T and Woodsworth, up to $1,000, while matching funds last. 

Read our Q&A featuring this year's recipient, Nicole De Jesus. Nicole’s story reflects just how far donor support can go: nurturing academic curiosity, fostering leadership, and opening doors to experiences that shape both scholarship and community. Below, Nicole shares how her passion for history developed, the ways she’s enriching campus life, and what the Swan Francis Award means to her. 

What inspired you to pursue this field of study, and how has that interest evolved throughout your educational journey? 

I was inspired to specialize in history because, beyond the classroom, I am greatly passionate about history. In my free time, I enjoy reading about historical events and playing history trivia games. Last summer, I spent eight weeks assisting an NGO with research on the Second World War in Southeast Asia. 

Although I am an eager history student now, my educational journey at UofT was not straightforward. I entered university unsure of my academic interests, so I took a broad selection of courses across several programs. Through this exploration, I was exposed to UofT’s diverse and engaging selection of history courses, which quickly captured my interest. By my second-year, I developed a strong passion for the subject, particularly the Early Modern era, and decided to pursue a history specialization. This year, I began my undergraduate history senior thesis on women’s rights in Medieval and Renaissance France! 

Have you been involved in any co-curricular activities, volunteer work, or leadership roles on campus?  

I’m very passionate about participating in co-curricular activities and volunteering on campus! In 2025, I founded a student group called The Second Sex Club (SSC) that is devoted to discussing critical feminist theory and community volunteering. Founding this club has been very fulfilling for me as I am strongly interested in gender equality, feminist theory, and assisting at-risk women. Moreover, I believe feminism should extend beyond theory and into action. The SSC pursues this mission by volunteering bi-weekly with a local women’s shelter and hosting monthly events on campus. This semester, for instance, we co-organized a campus-wide menstruation drive to support people who lack access to period products. 

In addition to the SSC, I am currently the Academic Director of the History Students’ Association (HSA) and the Humanities Faculty Ambassador of the UofT Research Network (UTRN). I also contribute to The Varsity Newspaper and was previously the Head of Media of Philosophers for Humanity (P4H). These activities have significantly shaped my time as a student by allowing me to connect with peers who share similar interests and to contribute to the welcoming and vibrant community at UofT. 

What does being selected as the recipient of the Swan Francis Award mean to you, both personally and academically? 

Being selected as the recipient of the Swan Francis Award is incredibly meaningful to me as I am honoured to be viewed as an outstanding student within the Woodsworth College community. Since my first year, Woodsworth has been a special part of my university experience, and receiving this award inspired me to continue being an active member of our campus. 

Join us in supporting the next generation of scholars and leaders. Make a gift to the Swan Francis Award by March 26 and help students continue to thrive.