Skip to main content

Flight 752: commemorative fund launched to honour 176 victims including two Concordia alumni

Concordia launches Memorial Scholarship Fund for Iranian Students with $50,000 start-up gift from Gina Cody
February 12, 2020
|
By Ian Harrison, BComm 01


Memorial for Siavash and Sara A memorial for Siavash Ghafouri-Azar, MASc 19, and Sara Mamani, MASc 18 was held at Concordia on January 10.

Concordia has created the Memorial Scholarship Fund for Iranian Students to commemorate those who died in the fatal crash of Flight 752 over Tehran, Iran, on January 8.

The Ukraine International Airlines crash claimed all 176 passengers and crew, including 57 Canadians. Two of the university’s recent graduates — Siavash Ghafouri-Azar, MASc 19, and Sara Mamani, MASc 18 — had just wed in Iran and were on their way home to Canada.

The tragedy prompted Concordia to establish a new Memorial Scholarship Fund for Iranian Students. This fund will support new students from Iran who choose to pursue their graduate education at Concordia as of fall 2020.

“Concordia joins Canada’s academic community, and the country at large, in mourning this devastating loss of life. Our heartfelt condolences go to the families and friends of the victims,” says Graham Carr, Concordia’s president.

Iranian students have long been vital to the fabric of the university community. This memorial fund will honour the memory of those who died by helping incoming Iranian students who choose to pursue their education at Concordia.

Gina Cody's $50,000 start-up gift

Gina Cody, MEng 81, PhD 89

Gina (Parvaneh Baktash) Cody, MEng 81, PhD 89, a generous Concordia donor, has given $50,000 to support the Memorial Scholarship Fund for Iranian Students — and a further $25,000 has already been raised to create a $75,000 baseline for this initiative.

“Like countless other Canadians, I was heartbroken upon learning of the crash of Flight 752,” says Cody, who immigrated to Canada from her native Iran in 1979 to pursue a PhD in building engineering.

“I hope Concordians join me in supporting the Memorial Scholarship Fund for Iranian Students to help the next generation of students and to honour the victims of this tragedy.”

Donate to the Memorial Scholarship Fund for Iranian Students.

Learn more about how Concordia offers support in times of need.



Back to top

© Concordia University