Blue Cross education scholarships announced

Page 18

Two Aboriginal post-secondary students, Kristen Kozakevich of Lac La Biche and Chaundra Allard of Red Deer, are among the 50 recipients of Alberta Blue Cross' 50th Anniversary Scholarships for the year 2000, announced Feb 15.

Allard, with a 3.4 grade point average, is in general studies but hopes to be accepted in the faculty of commerce in her third year at the University of Calgary. She is also a member of the University of Calgary Native Centre, which raises awareness of issues important to Native people. In addition, the 19-year-old is a track and field athlete who left March 8 to compete in the nationals. Allard said she is "normally a combined event athlete," but as she was injured she is just competing in long jump this time.

On the cultural front, Allard, who speaks English and French, has also exhibited a project about Metis jigging in the CRB Heritage Foundation exchange program in Sherbrooke, Que. and she dances and instructs with the Metis Youth Cultural Dancers.

About the Blue Cross award Allard said, "It is a pretty great honor to be chosen," especially because "there's lots of really good candidates." Allard added the $2,500 award will help her a lot.

Kozakevich has set her sights on a bachelor of science degree. She is studying at Concordia College in Edmonton, and eventually wants to be a chiropractor. The talented Kozakevich was also involved in the student council and in cross-country running, volleyball and basketball at her former high school. In addition, she was selected as runner-up in the Lac La Biche Native Friendship Centre's Miss Bicentennial pageant and she won the Miss Friendship award. She could not be contacted by press time.

Each year two of the 50 scholarships are reserved for Aboriginal students who are embarking on full-time, post-secondary study in Alberta. The awards were adjudicated through the Alberta Heritage Scholarship Fund. They are granted based on scholastic achievement, financial need and community involvement.