Canada Post scholarship goes to Aboriginal nursing student

After her father suffered a brain injury in a workplace accident and spent months in the hospital, April Auger knew what she wanted to do for the rest of her life. She credits nurses at the University of Alberta Hospital for helping the family through it all.

"They really made a difference. If not for them, our family would have fallen apart. Nursing is about improving another person's life."

Now enrolled in her second year of nursing at the University of Alberta (U of A), Auger recently received a 2005 Canada Post Aboriginal Education Initiative Award worth $1,000.

"She was chosen for this award because of the courage she has demonstrated in overcoming great adversity to pursue her nursing degree," said Norma Krueger, manager of national consumer services with Canada Post.

"The U of A nursing program gets about 850 applications for 150 spots each year, so when I was looking at the program coming out of high school, I almost gave up on the whole idea," Auger said.

The 28-year-old enrolled at the U of A after spending several years working in retail sales. She'd graduated from Ross Sheppard high school in Edmonton as a teen, but at the time, there was no money for university. It wasn't until her mother Elizabeth, a member of the Bigstone Cree Nation in northern Alberta, was given full treaty status that the family discovered there was funding available for Auger's education.

The scholarship, given to a student who has successfully completed one full year of post-secondary education, was presented at the U of A's Aboriginal Student Services Centre.
Auger spent a good part of her first year at the centre, going through the U of A Transition Year Program (TYP).

As a mature student, Auger was worried about how she'd cope with her studies.

"I was so nervous when I first arrived on campus. It's so huge," said Auger, the eldest of six children. "The Transition Year Program helped me so much. It should be available to all students, not just Aboriginal students."

The program started with five students in the mid-1980s and now averages about 50 students a year. The program is for Aboriginal students who otherwise would not be able to meet entrance requirements at the university. It is not an upgrading program, but a full-time student program for those who need the extra support during their first year.

Aboriginal students need at least a 60 per cent average in English 30 and at least one other matriculation high school course to get into the program for arts, Native studies or education degrees. Once accepted, students are registered in full-time first-year university classes as open studies students.

If students do well, they are eligible to enter degree programs in one of nine different faculties at the university.

The program also offers two additional classes: University 101 and 102, which teach the students good study habits, how to live on a budget and how to handle stress at university. As well, the classes also address cultural identity issues that Aboriginal students sometimes face.

"April has been an excellent student since the first day she arrived on campus," said Irene Spelliscy, acting co-ordinator of the Transition Year Program. "She has been highly motivated and high achieving from the start. We knew she would do well as soon as she entered the program."
Auger is excited about her future in nursing.

"This is my life's practice. You get into the right career and you are content, even if the work is hard."