Computer system security appeals to IT student

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Megan Ritchie of Peterborough, a great-granddaughter of Allan Ritchie, the first Aboriginal telegraph operator for Canadian Pacific Railway, has been interested in technology all her life. The 21-year-old, who avidly pursues her interests in computer science and geography, is getting a boost to her education thanks to some financial support from Xerox Canada's Aboriginal Scholarship Program.

Ritchie learned about the scholarship on the Metis Nation of Ontario Web site and received it the first time she applied.

Ritchie was one of eight Aboriginal students enrolled in a college or university program aimed at a career in the information technology industry who received a Xerox Canada award this year. The $3,000 scholarship is renewable for three additional years.

Students are chosen for the award based on their academic standing, work experience and community involvement.

Ritchie, a Metis who has maintained a 70 per cent academic average at Trent University, says she "always wanted to work with computers, and was interested in travelling and mapping." She now wants to enter the field of geographical information systems and system security.

In addition, her part-time job with the federal government's Customs and Revenue department is enabling her to gain experience in information technology support. She applied through the federal student work experience program, and since May 2001 she has worked in this position full-time during the summer. Last year she worked eight hours a week during the school year as well, which has now increased to 12 hours a week.

"They've only got two other IT support analysts there, and I help them a lot," Ritchie said about her job. "I've taken full responsibility for the inventory system, keeping track of the inventory of computers and so on."

Currently, her academic workload involves 30 hours a week of class time and independent study.

Ritchie's community involvement has included working in a DARE program while she was still in high school, giving presentations to school children. That was in Timmins. Ritchie was born in Chapleau (Her father and uncle belong to Chapleau Cree First Nation.), she moved to Timmins when she was eight, and remained there until 2000 when she left to pursue post-secondary education.

Since moving to Peterborough, Ritchie has participated in a fundraiser for cystic fibrosis that the university sponsors. Last year she was also involved in a "curl for cancer" program to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society.

In April 2003 Ritchie will graduate with a three-year bachelor of geography and computers degree. She plans to attend Sir Sandford Fleming College next, where she will study computer security and investigation for three years.

She anticipates she'll have a variety of career options upon completing that program.

"I'd really like to work for the federal government or the private sector in security for computer systems, in the managing aspect of it," said Ritchie. She said a future in the field looks "more and more promising," as there is an increasing need for security accompanying the increased use of technology.