Scholarships help struggling students

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced 10 Aboriginal Student Scholarship Awards for 2010. Recipients ranged from Goose Bay, Labrador to Terrace, B.C.

The RBC has, since 1992, donated more than $1 million to 98 students in Aboriginal communities across Canada through a scholarship awards program designed to support Aboriginal youth at every stage of their education and assist Aboriginal peoples in economic self-sufficiency.

“Training and education helps lay the groundwork for the future success of Aboriginal youth in the Canadian workforce,” said Phil Fontaine, special advisor to RBC.
“The Aboriginal Student Awards program and Stay-in-School program is a testament to RBC’s commitment and deep understanding of the needs of today’s Aboriginal youth and the communities in which they live.”

The program provides $4,000 annually, for two to four years, to students pursuing post-secondary education. Funds can go towards tuition, textbooks, supplies and living expenses during the academic year. Scholarship recipients interested in financial services careers may also be employed with RBC during summer and post-graduate.

Since the launch of this component, almost 500 Aboriginal students have been trained at RBC branches during the summers.

The winners are Ashley Normore of Goose Bay, Labrador and Métis Nation Labrador;  Charlie Davis of Roseneath, ON and the Alderville First Nation; Chennae Lapatak of Edmonton, AB and Saddle Lake First Nation; Jason Johnston of Barrie, Ontario and the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation; Jeremy McKay of Dauphin, MB and Pine Creek First Nation; Kimberly Martin of Winnipeg, MB and the Manitoba Métis Federation; Olivia Tremblay of Dalhousie, New Brunswick and Eel River Bar First Nation; Richelle Bowe of Cranbrook, B.C, and Anahim Band of Chilcotin Nation; Robyn Woodhouse Mckenzie of Air Ronge, Saskatchewan and Lac La Ronge Indian Band; and Trisha Stevens of Terrace, B.C. and Gingolx, Nisga’a Nation.

Trisha Stevens and Jeremy McKay participated in RBC’s Aboriginal Stay-in-School Program, which provides Aboriginal students with a chance to ‘earn and learn’ during the summer holidays.

Robyn Woodhouse Mckenzie said during a phone interview that she is at the University of Saskatchewan studying Arts and Science as a first-year student.

“I found out about the scholarship at the beginning of the summer,” said Mckenzie, adding she also received a few Cameco scholarships.

“I am trying to get into dentistry. I’ve always wanted to do that and it’s just something that interests me. It’s a challenge.”

She said she is enjoying university so far, and after two years of pre-dentistry she can apply to enter the College of Dentistry.

“I would hope to go back up north and help my community,” said Mckenzie, who believes in community involvement. As a high school student, Mckenzie was part of the Churchill cheerleading team, her high school Student Representative Council in La Ronge, a member of the La Ronge Figure Skating Club, and maintained an average in the 90s.

“I saw the scholarship online and decided to apply.”

Her advice to other students is to “apply for as much as you can, because you never know what you can find or end up with, and work hard in school and the community and with school involvement.”

“It makes it easier to go to school and afford going to school with $2,000 per semester,” she said of the scholarship, noting she is one of the lucky ones. Her band can also provide some funding. But every dollar helps with the pressures and costs of school.  Besides tuition, materials and books, there is the overall cost of living, and maybe even an occasional trip home.