Fanshawe alumnus uses GoFundMe for MBA dreams

Header image for Interrobang article CREDIT: DAVE VOYCE
Rumman Ullah Khan, a recent Fanshawe grad, is hoping to raise money for his MBA via GoFundMe.

In today’s world the cost of tuition is an absolute nightmare. From 2010 to 2015 the average cost of tuition for undergraduates rose from $5,146 to $5,959, and this year the national average rose to $6,191. For graduates looking to achieve their Master of Business Administration degrees, the average tuition cost is $28,567.

Despite this, recent Fanshawe alumnus has undertaken an ambitious goal of raising $45,000 in order to realize his dream of achieving his MBA. While this may seem like a lofty goal to many, Khan has demonstrated that for him, no goal is unachievable.

Since his arrival from Pakistan in 2012, Khan has gone from zero to 60. Khan described himself as being an average student while in Pakistan. He attributes his motivation and success to those who entered his life while in Canada, and good old fashioned hard work.

However, some of Khan’s achievements can be accredited only to himself. These achievements include being awarded the 2014 Co-op Student of the Year award, a prestigious award offered to only two students in Canada per year. Khan made history by being the first international student, as well as the first Fanshawe student, to win the award.

He has also received the Dr. Howard Rundle Academic Leadership Award, an award that recognizes a student’s leadership through involvement in campus life, while maintaining a cumulative GPA of 4.0 or higher.

In fact, Khan has received almost every award possible for a temporary resident.

But herein lies the problem; as a temporary resident, Khan is ineligible for OSAP, bursaries or scholarships. In order to attain his goal of earning an MBA he must cover the costs almost exclusively himself.

That is why he has launched a campaign on the popular crowdsourcing website GoFundMe. He is hoping that the people of London will recognize not only his achievements, but his unwavering desire to better the City of London, the city which he now calls home. Khan is aware that some may view this campaign as greedy, but stresses that he is genuinely interested in bettering himself for the good of his community.

“For some the MBA is about getting a good job, but for me, don’t be surprised if you see me working for a non profit organization, because if I can do something for the community, I would love to, if I could play a role, that would really make me satisfied… I want to get a good education so that I am better equipped to give back to the community” Khan said.

Volunteering is important to Khan, not only within Fanshawe. Since 2012 he has been involved with Fanshawe’s International Centre, and has been a part of the FOL ambassadors program. Even as an alumnus, he volunteers at the school in an informal capacity. He has also volunteered for the London Food Bank, and continues to offer his time and effort to a number of causes.

Khan is aware that not everyone can give financially to his Go- FundMe campaign, as he himself is struggling with the costs of dreaming big.

For those who can’t part with a dime Khan said, “People say sharing is caring, if they share [my story] with their friends and family, and my story could help someone to find the motivation to get involved in volunteering, that would be great as well.”