Trudy Epp Memorial Award in Social Work

Open to a full-time or part-time mature student enrolled in the Honours Bachelor of Social Work degree program on the basis of financial need and demonstrated community involvement through volunteerism, advocacy, or leadership.
Recipient must be a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident from the Thunder Bay campus.

Award Background
Established in 2025 in loving memory of Trudy Epp (BA’80, HBSW’81) by family and friends to honour her life and legacy. A dedicated social worker and community member, Trudy’s commitment to helping others made a lasting difference in the lives of those around her. She prioritized the values of compassion, service, generosity, leadership, and a genuine commitment to strengthening their community throughout her life.
Born to a large family in a small Manitoba farming community, Trudy completed grades 2-9 in a one room country school. From this foundation she developed a passion for education and giving back to her community. When the path of Trudy and Ernie (now professor emeritus) led them to Lakehead University in 1978 she pursued her degrees as a mature student part-time. The family hopes this award demonstrates the legacy of showing up for others, giving generously of themselves, strengthening their community, and believing in the power of helping people.