(Image Credit: Courtesy/Cody Ruberto)

By Jett Schwaier

SMILE SUNDAYS

Medicine Hat’s Walker has been announced as first winner of the Uride February Student Support Fund

Feb 15, 2026 | 6:00 AM

Canadian rideshare company Uride has named Dione Walker as the first February recipient of its $20,000 Student Support Fund.

The support fund is an initiative aimed at helping students manage the rising cost of education and daily living expenses by awarding $5,000 each week throughout February.

Walker of Medicine Hat has been selected among thousands of applicants who shared stories about the financial pressures they face while working to remain enrolled and focused on their studies.

The 37-year-old is a single mother of three and has returned to school to pursue child and youth counselling to help create safe and supportive spaces for young people while balancing her studies and working a part-time job.

Despite the challenges, Walker earned honours in her first semester and continues to work toward building a stable future for her family.

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Walker said the support will help ease financial pressure and allow her to stay focused on her education and practicum.

Founder and CEO of Uride, Cody Ruberto, said students across Canada are often balancing multiple jobs while pursuing their education, and hearing their stories highlights the importance of the initiative.

Uride is a Canadian rideshare company founded in Thunder Bay, Ont., that focuses on providing safe, affordable transportation while supporting the communities it serves through initiatives such as the Uride Student Support Fund.