Mark O'Riley, Vice President of UMRA filling in as a finalist judge for the 3MT® Thesis competition.
Endowment funds
Through our donations and membership, UMRA supports student learning and research initiative through a University of Manitoba Retirees Association Bursary and a Scholarship plus provides the second prize in a thesis-based competition for graduate students.
The University of Manitoba Retirees Endowment Fund (UMREF)
UMREF was established in 2012 by the University of Manitoba Retirees Association (UMRA) to recognize the contributions retirees have made and continue to make to support the university’s teaching and research mission. The Funds were established as one of the endowment accounts managed within the University Investment Trust (UIT).
At present, UMREF supports three awards:
- The UMRA bursary award, which was large enough to make its first financial awards in 2017.
- The UMRA scholarship award, which will be for a graduate student enrolled in a program related to aging when its principal is large enough to support an award.
- A $1,250 scholarship to the second-place winner of the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition held every spring at the University of Manitoba. Quinton Murdock was awarded the scholarship in 2026.
Three-Minute Thesis (3MT)
Learn more about the 3MT competition and meet scholarship winner Quinton Murdock.
Quinton is a microbiology masters student, specializing in the development of a droplet digital PCR assay to quantify HPV viral load. His research focuses on understanding how viral dynamics can predict persistence and cervical cancer risk, driven by a deep fascination with the microscopic mechanisms that govern human health and disease. Quinton’s academic contributions have been recognized with the 2026 Sheu L. Lee Family Scholarship in Oncology Research and the 2024 Undergraduate Research Showcase Award. With a background in the University’s Science Co-op program, he aims to build a career dedicated to improving diagnostic methods and advancing our global understanding of infectious diseases.
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Janet Sealey, President of UMRA presenting Quinton Murdock with his 2nd place trophy and award of $1250.00 in the 3MT® competition held on April 6, 2026.
How UMREF works
Structured as an umbrella fund within the University Investment Trust (UIT), the University of Manitoba Retirees Endowment Funds (UMREF) includes a variety of awards. These include scholarships, bursaries, research awards and prizes. Any type of fund held in the UIT may be included under the UMREF umbrella. Retirees who have existing endowment funds within the UIT may opt, without any change to the existing Terms of Reference of their award, to include it as part of UMREF. Doing this would allow UMRA to demonstrate the volume of support that retired faculty and staff contribute.
All funds listed on this website are managed by the University Investment Trust (UIT). Donors receive annual reports of the performance of their individual funds.
The Endowment Fund Committee monitors the performance of the umbrella fund and reports to the UMRA membership at its Annual General Meeting. The Committee promotes contributions to already existing funds and the establishment of new endowed funds. The Committee keeps donors and retired faculty and staff informed of its activities through this website.
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Contact us
University of Manitoba Retiree Association
c/o Learning & Organizational Development
309 Administration Building
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada
204-474-7175