By: Jenna Hobin
“At Carleton we care about everyone, and everyone has a space and purpose. If my financial contribution allows that purpose to continue to thrive, then I am all for it,” says Stenley Philippe, EDI Outreach and Recruitment Officer in Undergraduate Recruitment.
Stenley first came to Carleton over two decades ago as a student in Mass Communications with a minor in French, and reminisced that the connections he made on campus eased the transition from his hometown of Toronto to Ottawa. From the friendships he forged in residence to the support he received from faculty and staff in his program, he experienced a sense of belonging that reinforced his belief in the power of community.
Reflecting on his earliest days on campus, Stenley says, “It made me feel like this is a place I want to be, and I continue to believe that.” This sentiment has stayed with him throughout his journey at Carleton—starting as a student working in Undergraduate Recruitment’s call centre speaking with prospective students, to now managing the centre and mentoring current students in the same role he once held.
While he attributes his time as a student to being the biggest Carleton moment of his life, his experience as a staff member for Alternative Spring Break 13 years ago remains as a close second. He recounted his trip to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside where him and a team of students spent the week visiting community centres, working at a soup kitchen and handing out donations to transient populations.
Stenley’s participation in Alternative Spring Break was transformative, helping him cultivate a deeper understanding of people from diverse backgrounds, while highlighting the importance of belonging. This inspired him to become a monthly donor in support of the program, a commitment driven by his passion to ensure students have access to the same opportunity that created a lasting impact on both his personal life and the broader community.
As a dedicated donor through payroll deduction since 2012, the collective generosity of donors like Stenley helps sustain the program while strengthening the culture of philanthropy on campus. When asked what motivates him to continue providing support, Stenley put it simply, “The cause is still important, and the students are still important.”
Behind the Donor Curtain:
Do you have a favourite quote or personal motto?
“Sometimes we are so focused on the result, but maybe the most important thing is just to try. Even if you aren’t going to succeed, just the trying and effort is key to everything in life. When I am at my best, it is because I am trying. When I am at my worst, it’s because I’m focused on the end result.”
If you could go back in time, what profession other than your own would you like to try?
“When I was younger I took acting and modeling classes, and wanted to be an actor so bad. My dad put a lot of money into a portfolio and classes, then I got no gigs. My dad said, “You know what? You sometimes need to know what you’re not good at”. I also always said if I won the lottery that I would want to be a Wal-Mart or Costco greeter where I am greeting people into a space.”
What is your favourite spot on Carleton’s campus?
“I would say the Academic Quad, especially during the first few weeks of fall. There is such a sense of unity and connection, and the buzz is both electric and energetic.”
If you could have lunch with anyone—either living or from the past—who would it be?
“I would want to have lunch with Will Smith before the situation at the Oscars, especially because growing up the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was so great. I would tell him “hey, you’re awesome”, but then also give him a warning about what’s going to come if he does what he did at the Oscars.”