CNA students recognized with Millennium Awards
11/4/2008 9:11:46 AM
Four students from College of the North Atlantic (CNA) are among the 1,000 students at more than 195 post-secondary institutions across Canada to receive Millennium Awards.
The Millennium In-Course Scholarships are $4,000 awards and are based on academic merit, community service, leadership, innovation and recommendations.
Ellie Veinotte of Gander campus, Stephanie Bourne of Prince Philip Drive campus, Eric Legge of Burin campus, and Jennifer Stephen of Corner Brook campus, each walked away with a Millennium Award.
Twenty year-old Veinotte of Lunenburg, Nova Scotia is enrolled in the Aircraft Maintenance program.
“I thought it was a really good opportunity to help me out for the rest of my last year,” says Veinotte. “I do live away from my parents. It’s hard living on your own and going to school. When I found out it was for $4,000 I really felt I could use the help, so I applied for it.”
However, she says she never expected to walk away with an award.
“It feels great to have won. I jumped up and down and screamed when I found out but I really can’t believe I was actually picked out of 1,000 people who applied for this award. I’m really honoured to have received it and it definitely will be a big help. It will pay for groceries and rent. It will help towards my expenses.”
Legge, 24, from Bay Arm, is a student of Electrical Engineering Technology (Industrial Controls) at the Burin campus. He says he decided to enter based on information he received from a guidance counsellor at Burin campus.
“I was reading through an email I had received about the Millennium Award. As I read the criteria for applicants I realized that I could qualify and thought it would be a great opportunity,” says Legge.
“It was a great feeling to be recognized for my dedication in college and involvement in the community. With four semesters left in college this money will be more than helpful when it comes time to pay tuition and buy books. I believe that the Millennium Awards program reaches out and encourages students to work hard and be involved with their community.”
Stephanie Bourne, 21, from Carbonear, is enrolled in the Community Recreation Leadership program in St. John’s.
“I was approached by one of my instructors to apply for it,” says Bourne. “I also felt that I was qualified for the award and I could use the extra money.”
She says it feels great to have won it and the money will go a long way towards helping fund her post-secondary education.
“It will help a lot with school fees and other expenses while I am going to school. I think (Community Recreation Leadership) is a great program with wonderful instructors. It includes a lot of community involvement and experience. I think more people should know about the program and everything it has to offer.”
Twenty-five year-old Jennifer Stephen is from Sydney, Nova Scotia and is enrolled in the Forest Resources Technician program at Corner Brook campus.
“I’m on student loans and I only work in the summer time so I don’t have a lot of money coming in to pay for school,” says Stephen. “There are posters in the school and there was one up on the scholarship wall last spring when I was looking for scholarship to apply for. I didn’t think I would get it but I thought I’d give it a shot.”
She says it’s nice to have her hard work pay off in this way.
“This award helps me a lot. I didn’t get enough money for the entire year from government this year so I would have to get a line of credit and now I don’t have to do that because this award will pay for the majority of my expenses.”
The Millennium In-Course Scholarships are awarded to a student enrolled in the first year of a program leading to a diploma or certificate. The winner must be a full time student, with at least a 3.3 GPA and their program of study must be at least two-years in duration.
The Millennium Award is awarded to students who have demonstrated exceptional merit without regard to financial need. They must show an active and significant enrolment towards the betterment of the community, must show an interest in innovation as well as leadership and the ability to motivate others.
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Assistant
College of the North Atlantic
709-643-6804
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca