Maria D’Amico joined McGill University in 1978 working under the umbrella of the Faculty of Law, and in 2009 was transferred full time to its Institute and Centre of Air and Space Law (ICASL). At the ICASL, Maria became the “heart and soul” and earned several awards and tributes in recognition of her endless dedication and contribution that spanned over the past four decades. In 2017, KEATCA partnered with McGill University Institute of Air and Space Law where Maria took an instrumental role with KEATCA in selecting potential candidates for annual grants in recognition of its Bala and Ram Jakhu Grant.

Coming from a poor family that immigrated to Canada back in the mid-1950s,  education sadly did not seem to be a priority when it came to putting food on the table even though Maria’s parents did their utmost to instill the importance of education for a better life throughout our growing years.  It was not until Maria was 18 and joined McGill that her curiosity developed and understood the importance of an education come alive, especially being immersed in a field where she found myself constantly asking  “what is air law and what do you do with space law”?  She was in awe reading personal statements from potential student applicants from so many different backgrounds and cultures who were willing to travel from all corners of the world just to pursue this unique field of study.  She got to witness firsthand how important this education was to each of them and their disappointed when they were rejected more often due to lack of financial support.  All this somewhat seemed unfair to her that a student would be denied access especially knowing that they were ready to alter their entire lives and put in all the hard work and all she could do in my professional capacity was to be there for them, assist, facilitate and encourage them not to give up!