Aboriginal students awarded bursaries

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Getting a post-secondary education is expensive, but help is here for 53 Aboriginal students considering careers in health care.

Since 1996 more than $1.1 million has been awarded by the Aboriginal Health Careers Bursary to 260 students across the province, with a total of $271,500 to be given out this year.

The deadline for applications is May 15 each year. Receipt of the bursary is based on Alberta residency, financial need, academic merit, community involvement in supporting the Aboriginal community (or their own communities) and letters from community leaders.

Funding the bursary are Alberta Health and Wellness and the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund.

The maximum bursary is $13,000 and there is a broad range within that amount, said John Tuckwell of Alberta Health and Wellness.

"This year we had 60 to 65 applications and we approved 53."

Carol Brzezicki of Edmonton, who is pursuing her masters in Health Leadership Studies through Athabasca University, said that she was ecstatic when she was notified that she was one of the 53 students to receive the bursary.

"I'm very thankful to Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund for having the confidence in me and for supporting me with the Alberta Health Careers Bursary. For many Aboriginal people in Alberta, health is a major concern.

The 53 recipients from across the province are:

Paula Bailey, Fort McMurray, Nursing; Christina Bayley, Edmonton, Bachelor of Science; Sherri Beauchamp, Slave Lake, Bachelor of Science; Mary Belcourt, Edmonton, Pharmacy; Walter Belcourt, Edmonton, Social Work; Danielle Berlinguette, Edmonton, Medical Laboratory; Graeme Brassard, Hinton, Medicine; Lee Burkholder, Leduc, Medicine; Carol Brzezicki, Edmonton, Masters in Health; Chantelle Cardinal, Goodfish Lake, Massage Therapist; Bonnie Clarke, Lac La Biche, Social Work, Jeannine Carriere, Alberta Beach, Ph.D. in Human Ecology; Jennifer Coutu, Fort McMurray, Nursing; Ashley Courtoreille, Fort Vermillion, Bachelor of Science; Amelia Denby, Carvel, Bachelor of Science; Veronica Desabrais, Edmonton, Mental Health; Alexis Desrosiers, Edmonton, Dentistry; Geraldine Dick, Red Deer, Nursing; Bobby-Jo Diesel, x-ray Technology; Dustin Doderai, Edmonton, Dentistry; Ron Ducharme, Edmonton, Dentistry; Stacey Eagletail, Calgary, Nursing; Valerie Faithful, Frog Lake, Social Work; Sallemee Ferris, Lac La Biche, Social Work; Jessie Fiddler, Priddis, Bachelor of Science; Holly Fritz, Calgary, Dentistry; Brenda Gladue, Edmonton, Social Work; Michelle Hammel, Grande Prairie, Nursing; Brett Jackson, Edmonton, Psychology; Gregory King, Sherwood Park, Bachelor of Science; Brenda Kohn, Calgary, Nursing; Nadine Kusiak, Edmonton, Bachelor of Science; Michel Lacoursiere, Peace River, Pharmacy; Roxanna Ladouceur, Lac La Biche, Social Work; Giselle Lefebvre, Fort McMurray, Naturopathic Medicine; Jo-Ann Lepine, Fort McMurray, Nursing; Angeline Letendre, Edmonton, Ph.D. in Nursing; Jessica Letourneau, Edmonton, Occupational Therapist; Teri L'Hirondelle, St. Albert, Nursing; Catharine MacLeod, St. Albert, Nursing; James Makokis, Saddle Lake, Nutritional Medicine; Doreen McLean, Fort Vermillion, Health Administration; Gordon Nadeau, Sherwood Park, Physical Therapist; Nicole Neale, Edmonton, Holistic Health; Ashley O'Connell, Biochemistry; Rory Peever, Edmonton, Environmental Health; Alvina Rattlesnake, Robb, Nursing; Karin Regier, Red Deer, Nursing; Elaine Sanderson, Didsbury, Bachelor of Science; Debrah Smeby, Calahoo, Social Work; Claude Sound, Edmonton, Health Administration; Raina Willier, Slave Lake, Psychology; and Sheila Zilinsky, High Prairie, Psychology.