Broken Heart Love Affair (BHLA) and Lifelong Crush (LLC) has relaunched The Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship in partnership with Humber Polytechnic.
This first of its kind scholarship was created by the founding partners of the two agencies in 2022, in memory of Miles Philip Hammond, a one-year-old boy from Muskoka who lost his battle to cancer in February of 2021. Designed, to enable promising students who have faced obstacles to pursue their creative dreams, it focuses on accessibility to our industry for students in underserviced communities. Originally in partnership with Miami Ad School, supported by a media push from Epitaph Group, as well as PR through Hype PR, the program has funded a creative education for three students since its inception.
The Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship remains rooted in the belief that adversity can spark creativity, and that access to education and opportunity is key to building a more inclusive creative industry. According to first-year recipient Qudsiya Jabeen, “This scholarship had a tremendous impact on my life. It gave me access to mentorship, a supportive network, and opened doors that once seemed impossible. For students like me, it’s not just financial support – it’s validation that our stories and creativity matter.”
For 2025, the Faculty of Media & Creative Arts at Humber Polytechnic has joined forces with BHLA and LLC to expand the program’s reach and impact. The scholarship now funds two full-tuition recipients annually, opening doors for students who may otherwise face barriers to entering creative industries.
“We thank BHLA and LLC for their generous support in launching the Miles Philip Hammond Creative Scholarship at Humber. Covering full tuition, this scholarship offers more than financial aid – it provides mentorship from industry leaders, helping students overcome barriers and build professional networks. Honouring Miles Hammond’s legacy, this initiative not only fosters student resilience but also strengthens our community.
When students are relieved of financial worries, their creativity can truly flourish, allowing them to develop to their fullest potential. We look forward to welcoming the inaugural recipients at Humber and celebrating this impactful partnership,” says Krista O’Donnell, chief advancement officer at Humber Polytechnic.
“As BHLA began our work with Humber Polytechnic, we were exposed to their world class media and advertising program. So, when Miami Ad School Toronto closed, we knew Humber was the right partner to carry forward this meaningful scholarship and ensure Miles’ legacy continues to thrive”, says Joline Matika, SVP people at BHLA and LLC. “Their commitment has gone above and beyond, embracing an expanded future for the program and supporting our purpose of opening doors for underserviced communities in advertising.”
The initiative has gone even one step further this year partnering with the Community Outreach and Workforce Development (COWD) arm of Humber. Cara Wallace, director, shares, “At COWD, we work every day to create pathways to education and employment for young people from racialised and underserviced communities who have faced systemic barriers. Our Youth Transition Program helps these youth explore post-secondary options and build confidence in their future. Partnering with the Miles Philip Hammond Creative Scholarship is a natural extension of that mission. It is about more than financial support. It is about recognising the brilliance that exists in communities too often overlooked and building bridges into industries like advertising where their voices are needed.”
Miles’ parents, Kate and Kent Hammond added, “the past Miles Philip Hammond Scholarship recipients are already doing amazing things in their fields, and we are so excited about this new partnership with Humber. We feel that as the scholarship continues to grow, Humber offers its recipients so many opportunities to excel in their studies and in this industry. We are incredibly proud of this scholarship and the fact that our son’s life continues to be honoured by all those involved”.
Applications for the 2025 scholarships will be accepted until September 21st, 2025. Interested applicants can apply through Humber Polytechnic’s official scholarship portal here. The selection committee will announce the 2025 recipients December 11th, 2025.