KAMLOOPS – TRU Tourism student Stacey Peterson of Smithers is one of the 26 BC aboriginal students who received an Alberta scholarship, worth $2,005.
“Stacey is one of the most enthusiastic, positive students have had thepleasure to know in over 20 years of teaching,” said TRU Tourism Management Department Diploma Coordinator Ted Wykes.
“She is one of those rare individuals who has a genuine thirst for knowledge and has such an incredible attitude that I am in awe sometimes. I have no doubt that in the future TRU will turn to her asan example of a graduate who has made an outstanding contribution to her chosen profession and to her community.”
The young mom, who also won a $1000 Nova gold scholarship last November, and plans to ladder into TRU’s Bachelor of Tourism Management program when she completes her diploma, gave kudos and thanks in return.
“I’ve been really fortunate,” she said of the award and her program.”It’s been a great year and I have really good teachers. I couldn’thave done it without them.”
The awards, earmarked for Aboriginal students attending British Columbia’s public post-secondary institutions, were created by the Alberta government in celebration of its centennial year. Starting thisyear, Alberta will provide 25 annual scholarship awards to every province and territory in Canada, with each province and territory determining its own application process and deadline. This month, thefirst awards went to students chosen by the British Columbia First Nations coordinators committee made up of eight members from publicpost-secondary institutions and a representative from the ministry.
To ensure that students at each of B.C.’s 26 public institutions have equal opportunity to access the awards, the Ministry of AdvancedEducation added one more scholarship.
“The recipients of these awards are great role models in their communities and inspire others to pursue their vision of the successfulfuture that education provides,” said BC’s Advanced Education Minister Murray Coell.
Between semesters, Peterson is an active volunteer in her community,sitting on five committees and volunteering as an event planner for theHockeyville program.
To qualify for the scholarship, students must be First Nations, Métis,or Inuit enrolled in full-time studies at a public post-secondary institution.
Students wishing to be considered for next year’s awards should contactthe First Nations coordinator at their institution in December forapplication details.
For more information, please contact:
Ted Wykes at 250-828-5366 or by email.
Stacey Peterson at 250-682-8889
