Jason Ekeocha Sr. Memorial Graduate Scholarship

Jason Ekeocha Sr. was the father to F.O.R.M. Basketball Academy Founder & President, Paul Ekeocha. Sadly, he passed away on June 1, 2019 after a long battle with cancer. He leaves behind the love of his life, Daphne, whom he was married to for 56 years, 3 children, 8 grand-children, 4 great grand-children, many nieces and nephews and countless others who simply called him “Uncle or Nda JJ” (loosely translated to “Respected Elder” or “Respected One” – one of the highest honors given in the Igbo tribe of Nigeria).

Jason was born in Owerri, Nigeria, and through determination, dedication and a strong work ethic, was awarded the Commonwealth Scholarship to attend university in the UK. He chose to attend the University of Reading in England, where he studied Agronomy. Upon completion, he went on to attend other prestigious institutions including the University of Bristol, Oxford and Cambridge, earning several Master’s degrees and a Doctorate of Medicine. Ultimately, his love for agronomy, environmental sustainability and farming led him back to Africa, where he directed Government Research Stations and Agencies in Nigeria, Zambia, Uganda and several other African nations.

A man of principle, integrity, humour and sarcasm, Jason was a man of the people. A man of very few words, he had the uncanny ability to capture his audience in any setting. He strongly believed that the success of people started in the community and in community outreach. He was a philanthropist, a Professor, a family man, a man who always made time for others; he dedicated his life’s work to community development not only in the agronomy and environmental sector (working for the Ministry of Environment & Energy in Ontario), but in poverty and homelessness. In the 90’s, he was an integral Committee Member on the Mayor’s Task Force on Poverty (in London, ON), where he fought for the rights of those less fortunate in the London-Middlesex area. His biggest passion was that of social justice and equality. To those that knew him, he would always repeat “do unto others as you would have them do unto you”. He exemplified this notion in every community he was a part of.

The Jason Ekeocha Sr. Memorial Graduate Scholarship is being presented by F.O.R.M. Basketball Academy in partnership with Sports Unlimited to 1 Senior Boy and 1 Senior Girl who are members of F.O.R.M. and/or members of their high school basketball team and are members of a visible ethnic minority group. Each recipient, who will receive a $600.00 cheque, must be in their Grade 12 year, be graduating in Spring/Summer 2024, and have been accepted to a Post-Secondary institution (College or University). They must demonstrate a love for their community through evidence of community involvement in some capacity (Eg: mentoring, coaching, volunteering, etc.) and must carry out the Mission Statement of F.O.R.M (https://formbasketball.com/mission-statement). They must be a student-athlete who exemplifies a passion for basketball; be a person of integrity, selflessness, accountability, reliability; and an advocate for social justice and equality for all – regardless of race, color, sex, creed or background. A true all-around student-athlete, on their way to becoming a world class citizen. 

ESSAY TOPICS: (choose only 1)

1. If you were given the opportunity to launch your very own anti-racism and social justice initiative and campaign, what would it be and what would it look like?

2. Do you believe that racism is only "an America" problem? State your position and defend it.

3. The 1960's was an era of race riots, battles over social justice/social reform and bringing to the forefront, the major issues of that time. Reflect back to the spring and summer of 2020 and we experienced a repeat of the 1960's. Why do you think these recurrences are happening and what would you do to educate your peers? 

4. There is an ever growing "pandemic" in sport. Young girls are choosing to no longer play organized sports past grade 8 and 9. As the CEO of a not-for-profit organization who does work in the women in sports space a) why do you think this problem exists? b) how would you go about identifying this problem? c) what projects, initiatives or campaigns would you run to make sport "fun" for young girls and keep them engaged?