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Six Fort St. James students awarded scholarships for post-secondary education

Indigenous students awarded to further their studies
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UNBC in Prince George. File photo

Six Indigenous university students from Fort St. James have been awarded scholarships from the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society.

Hannah Olinek, Kari Barge, Nathaniel Teegee and Seraphine Munroe, who attend the University of British Columbia; Marion Erickson, who attends the University of Northern British Columbia; and Trina Dyer, who attends Vancouver Island University, have each received awards.

Olinek and Erickson have won undergraduate awards; Barge, Teegee and Munroe have won masters/doctoral awards; and Dyer has won a B.C. Indigenous Teacher Education Award.

In total, 470 Indigenous students in B.C. have been awarded $1.5 million from the society to support their studies at post-secondary institutions throughout the province.

The Society’s Indigenous Awards program is funded from the returns on an endowment fund established by the Province of British Columbia. It was created to assist in removing barriers to higher education for Indigenous peoples. Awards of $1,000 to $5,000 each are issued every year through a competitive process to students studying at all post-secondary levels, from trades training to doctoral programs.

“Congratulations to this year’s recipients … I am so proud to see so many Indigenous students advancing their aspirations and dreams through higher education,” said Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Almost eighty percent of future careers will require post-secondary training. Our government is deeply committed to breathing life into the Calls to Action on reconciliation by supporting pathways and opening doors of opportunity for Indigenous learners. Together we are going to build the best B.C.”

READ MORE: Quesnel student wins COFI scholarship



editor@quesnelobserver.com

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