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Canku Ota |
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(Many Paths) |
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An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America |
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June 30, 2001 - Issue 39 |
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Iqaluit Student Awarded Ell Scholarship |
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by Denise Rideout Nunatsiaq News - June 22, 2001 |
 IQALUIT
— David Iou is an award-winning student, gifted soccer player, community volunteer and respected youth. Now he’s
added winning the Ben Ell scholarship to his list of accomplishments. The Iqaluit 18-year-old was awarded the scholarship at the Inuksuk High School graduation in Nunavut’s capital June 9. "You should have seen my face when I heard my name being called," Iou said. "I was excited too because it was the first Ben Ell scholarship." The Iqaluit city council created the scholarship last month in memory of Ben "Siusarnaq" Ell, a well-known Iqaluit resident and hunter who was involved in municipal politics for more than 20 years. The $1,000 scholarship is awarded to a graduating high school student who is involved in student politics, a good community citizen and going on to college or university. Iou, the son of Noolee Iou and Marc Lalonde, fit the bill. Sheila Levy, a guidance counsellor at Inuksuk, said Iou was picked because of his good grades, community volunteer work and role on the student council. "I think he was an excellent choice," said Levy, who has known Iou for several years. This past year, Iou was treasurer of the Inuksuk student council. He’s also represented Nunavut at a number of youth conferences in the South. Last year, he attended the National Student Commonwealth Forum and this past April he took part in a "Youth Truth" conference. This coming August, he’ll represent Nunavut at a Canada Games symposium in London, Ont. He’ll join other young people to talk about fair play in sports. Iou admits athletics are his biggest passion.  He’s played on the school’s soccer, basketball and volleyball teams. Sports have taken him many
places, including a soccer tournament in Greenland two years ago. "If I’m not doing homework, I’m playing sports," Iou said with a smile. As an athlete and an academic, Iou said he always finds a way to balance sports and studies. During free periods in school he did his homework, leaving his evenings open for basketball and other sports. Last summer he volunteered with the city soccer club, teaching kids soccer skills and refereeing games. Now Iou is taking his love of sports – and his desire to continue his education –to the next level. He’s going to university to become a gym teacher. This fall he’ll attend Brock University in St. Catharines, Ont., where he’ll take courses on recreation and sports. Following that, he wants to complete an education degree so he can teach physical-education classes. "It would be nice being Inuk and having a degree. I think it could get you far," Iou said. And the young man doesn’t mind the pressure of living up to those expectations. "It’s very nice when I hear I’m a role model," he said. |
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| Canku Ota is a free Newsletter celebrating Native America, its traditions and accomplishments . We do not provide subscriber or visitor names to anyone. Some articles presented in Canku Ota may contain copyright material. We have received appropriate permissions for republishing any articles. Material appearing here is distributed without profit or monetary gain to those who have expressed an interest. This is in accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107. | ||
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Canku Ota is a copyright © 2000, 2001 of Vicki Lockard and Paul Barry. |
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The "Canku Ota - A Newsletter Celebrating Native America" web site and its design is the |
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Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2001 of Paul C. Barry. |
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All Rights Reserved. |
