Canku Ota

(Many Paths)

An Online Newsletter Celebrating Native America

June 14, 2003 - Issue 89

Nunavut students receive awards

Two Nunavut students have won awards from the Millennium Scholarship Foundation. The Millennium Excellence award program was established by the federal government in 1998. The awards are given to high school students entering university. They're awarded to students who show leadership, academic excellence and commitment to their community. Matthew Fergusson is one of the two winners. He's just about to graduate from Nanisivik High School in Pond Inlet.

Matthew Fergusson is a hard person to track down. The Pond Inlet high school student is busy with exams and preparations for graduation these days. But it's not unusual for Fergusson to be busy. He's a cadet, he plays basketball with his school's gold medal winning team and he's always been at the top of his class. He's also an active volunteer. Last summer for example, he organized a softball program for youth in his community. Fergusson's cadet leader, Pat McDermott, wasn't surprised to find out the 17-year-old had won a scholarship that recognizes his achievements.

McDermott says he hopes Fergusson's award will inspire other students.

"I think it's a demonstration of what kids can achieve. You don't have to be a student down south at a bigger school. You can succeed anywhere and I think that Matthew has been an excellent role model in that regard."

Fergusson himself is quite modest about the award, which could be worth up to $16,000 if he stays in college and keeps his marks up. He says it will help him pay for a college course in adventure tourism and he thinks it will help him give back to his community in another way.

"After my training I'll be able to come back and people that come here to take tours with me will also create income within the community in other ways such as shopping and souvenirs and the other things."

One other student in Nunavut received a one-time Millennium Excellence award of $4,000. She did not want her name to be published.

The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation
The Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation is a private and autonomous organization established by an Act of Parliament in 1998 with an endowment of $2.5 billion to help Canadians meet the challenges of a rapidly changing economy and society by creating opportunities for them to pursue their post-secondary education.
http://www.millenniumscholarships.ca/en/main.html

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