Lac La Ronge member awarded RBC scholarship

The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) announced ten new Aboriginal student scholarship awards for 2010 with recipients hailing from locations all across the country, including one from Saskatchewan.

“Training and education helps lay the groundwork for the future success of Aboriginal youth in the Canadian workforce,” said Phil Fontaine, Special Advisor to RBC. “The Aboriginal Student Awards program and Stay-in-School program is a testament to RBC’s commitment and deep understanding of the needs of today’s Aboriginal youth and the communities in which they live.”

The program awards $4,000 annually for two to four years, to students pursuing post-secondary education. Funds can go towards tuition, textbooks, supplies and living expenses during the academic year, and scholarship recipients interested in financial services careers may also be employed with RBC in the summer and before graduation.

Since the launch of this component almost 500 Aboriginal students have been trained at RBC branches during the summer.

Trisha Stevens of Gingolx Nisqua Nation in BC and Jeremy McKay of the Pine Creek First Nation in Manitoba participated in RBC’s Aboriginal Stay-in-School Program, which gives Aboriginal students a chance to ‘earn and learn’ during the summer holidays.

The lone Saskatchewan recipient, Robyn Woodhouse Mckenzie of the Lac La Ronge Indian band, said in a phone interview with Sage that she is at the University of Saskatchewan studying Arts and Science as a first-year student.

“I found out about the scholarship at the beginning of the summer,” said Mckenzie, adding she saw it online and decided to apply. She also received a few Cameco scholarships. “I am trying to get into Dentistry, I’ve always wanted to do that and it’s just something that interests me, it’s a challenge.”

She said she is enjoying university so far, and after two years of pre-dentistry she can apply to enter the College of Dentistry.

“I would hope to go back up north and help my community,” said Mckenzie, adding she has a strong belief in the value of community involvement.

As a high school student in La Ronge, Mckenzie was part of the Churchill cheerleading team, her high school SRC, and a local Figure Skating Club, all while maintaining an average in the 90’s.

She has some advice for other students looking to finance their education through scholarships.

“Apply for as much as you can, because you never know what you can find or end up with–work hard in school and the community and with school involvement,” she said.

“It makes it easier to go to school and afford going to school, with $2000 per semester,” she said. Mckenzie notes that she is one of the lucky ones—her band can also provide some funding. However, every dollar helps with the pressures and costs of school, she added. Besides tuition, materials, and books, there is the overall cost of living, and maybe occasional trips home.

Since 1992, RBC has donated more than $1 million to 98 students in Aboriginal communities across Canada, through a scholarship awards program designed to support Aboriginal youth at every stage of their education and assist Aboriginal peoples in economic self-sufficiency.

Scholarship award winners are Ashley Normore of the Métis Nation-Labrador; Charlie Davis of the Alderville First Nation, Ont; Chennae Lapatak of Saddle Lake First Nation, Alta.; Jason Johnston of the Chippewas of Nawash First Nation, Ont.; Jeremy McKay of Pine Creek First Nation, Man.; Kimberly Martin of the Manitoba Métis Federation; Olivia Tremblay of Eel River Bar First Nation, N.B.; Richelle Bowe of the Anahim Band of Chilcotin Nation, B.C.; Robyn Woodhouse Mckenzie of the Lac La Ronge Indian Band, Sask.; and Trisha Stevens of Gingolx, Nisga’a Nation, B.C.