Earlier this year, Vito Ierullo (BSc 1971) and his wife, Rae, were at the “First Students of UTSC” reception at Spring Reunion, when Rae had an idea. That day, May 27, was also her husband’s 65th birthday and as she had not yet gotten him a gift. She decided, right then and there, to start a scholarship in his name.
"Vito is the only person of his generation in his family to earn a university degree," says Rae. "Determination and hard work are [his] strong suits, so I thought this would be the perfect gift." Vito, who immigrated to Canada at the age of seven, is the founder of Records on Wheels, which eventually became the successful international conglomerate Entertainment One.
The Vito Ierullo and First Classes of UTSC Entrance Award will be given to full-time undergraduate students on the basis of financial need and academic merit. The value of the scholarship and number of awardees are still to be determined, but the first award will be handed out in 2012.