Ruth Ann Newton (née Bond) graduated from Ryerson in 1959 with a diploma in Journalism. While attending Ryerson, Newton was an active member of the Student Advisory Council (SAC), president of the World University Service (WUS), social convenor of the Ryerson Press Club, and helped organize debates for the Young Progressive Conservative Club. In her first year at Ryerson, Newton was co-captain of the basketball, volleyball, and badminton teams. In 1959, Newton received an award from the SAC and from the Ontario Weekly Newspapers Association (OWNA) for the best journalism thesis. That same year, Newton donated funds to establish a bursary to assist women studying Journalism at Ryerson.