Alberta students aiming high and going far
Edmonton... A world of opportunity awaits eight Alberta high school students as they prepare to spend two years studying in places such as India, Italy, and China as recipients of the 2004 Grant MacEwan United World College Scholarships.
Each student will receive a scholarship valued at more than $28,000 to study and live at the renowned United World Colleges. The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition, room and board, and one return trip home per year. Recipients were chosen based on their academic record, personal accomplishments, community involvement and interest in the colleges' ideals of international peace, justice and cooperation.
"The scholarships recognize these students' outstanding academic and personal achievements and their devotion to strengthening their communities through public service," said Learning Minister Dr. Lyle Oberg. "The opportunity to learn and share with young people from around the world will be an experience of lifetime and help these students continue on the path to becoming strong and competent future leaders."
United World Colleges is an international education movement dedicated to bringing young people together in an environment designed to promote international understanding and tolerance. The program combines intense academic curriculum with activities that encourage social responsibility. The first United World College opened in 1962. Currently, there are 10 colleges around the world with students from 80 different nationalities taking part in the program.
Since 1992, more then $3.4 million has been awarded to 176 Alberta students for study at various United World Colleges. In 2000, the program was expanded and renamed to honour the life and accomplishments of Dr. Grant MacEwan.
The Grant MacEwan United World College Scholarships are one of more than 50 scholarships and bursaries available to Alberta students through Alberta Scholarship Programs. More information about this and other scholarships is available at www.alis.gov.ab.ca/scholarships. For information on United World Colleges, visit www.uwc.net/.
Note to Editor:
Media are invited to speak with recipients at an orientation session being held on Saturday, June 5, 2004, at 4th floor, Sterling Place, 9940-106 St. between 2:30 and 3 p.m.
Backgrounder
Grant MacEwan United World College Scholarship 2004 recipients
| Recipient | Current High School | United World College |
| Emily Clare Emily is a bilingual, International Baccalaureate student who is also a school youth correspondent for the Edmonton Journal. She is involved in the music program at Alberta College playing harp, a talent she has pursued for almost eight years. Active in the community, Emily volunteers at 10,000 Villages, a local fair trade store and has initiated a UNICEF fundraiser at school. | McNally Composite High School (Edmonton) | Red Cross/Red Crescent Nordic United World College (Norway) |
| Christie E. Gibson Christie is an avid musician currently preparing for her Grade 10 piano. She also plays the trumpet and French horn in her school bands. She is passionate about astronomy and has built her own telescope. Christie enjoys organizing and participating in Model United Nations (UN), and she is the past president of the worldwide International Baccalaureate Student Society. She is a volunteer cross-country ski instructor, swimming assistant, and enjoys running, field hockey and participating in triathlons. Christie recently shaved her head to raise money for cancer research. | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (Calgary) | Mahindra United World College of India (India) |
| Hayley E. Grundy In the last year and a half, Hayley has been an outspoken advocate for public education. She plays violin, piano and guitar, and is active in school drama productions and debate club. Hayley volunteers at Fort Edmonton, the River City Shakespeare Festival and as a tutor at a local elementary school. | Ross Sheppard High School (Edmonton) | The United World College of the Adriatic (Trieste, Italy) |
| Fraser A. M. Harland Fraser, a compassionate and hard working individual, is a proud Canadian. He is an active member of his school’s music and drama programs, playing lead trumpet in the concert and senior jazz bands, singing tenor in the chamber and jazz choirs, and acting in school plays and musicals. Fraser loves biking, swimming and running, and will end his physical education class this year with a triathlon. Fraser is also involved in a Social Justice Club and was recently a key organizer for a thirty-hour famine that raised more than $14,000 for malnourished people around the globe. | Camrose Composite High School (Camrose) | The United World College of the Atlantic (Wales, United Kingdom) |
| Priyanka Karuvelil Priyanka was born in Kuwait and lived there for 15 years before she moved to Calgary. She is extremely involved in her school, having received several accolades at all levels in art, speech, debate and Model UN. Priyanka thrives amongst people and prides herself on being the general go-to-girl at her high school, as she is the section editor of her school newspaper. She also volunteers with special needs children. | Western Canada High School (Calgary) | Lester B. Pearson United World College (Victoria, British Columbia) |
| Jacqueline R. Pereira Jacqueline was born in India and raised in Africa. She moved to Canada when she was 10 years old and has been living in Okotoks ever since. She enjoys swimming, travelling, meeting new people, playing the piano and clarinet, and has a passion for cooking. Jacqueline was one of the founding members of her school’s chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving and is actively involved in service at organizations such as The Mustard Seed, Samaritan’s Purse, Feed the Hungry, Kid’s Help Phone and at public health clinics. She volunteers as a youth counsellor at local summer camps and promotes cultural programs at the cultural centre and literacy programs at the public library. | Holy Trinity Academy (Okotoks) | Lester B. Pearson United World College (Victoria, British Columbia) |
| Taufiq F. Ramji Taufiq, a licensed glider and pilot, is actively involved with Royal Canadian Air Cadets and is currently a flight commander, drill coach and president of the Mess Committee. Taufiq has worked on several community projects with Child Friendly Calgary and the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. His kind, compassionate and friendly attitude has helped him make lasting contributions to the community. He enjoys playing basketball, volleyball, soccer, piano, trombone and drums. He also enjoys debate, Model UN and Model Parliament. | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (Calgary) | Li Po Chun United World College (Hong Kong, China) |
| Zahid Sunderani Zahid is a motivated individual who enjoys drama, public speaking and debating, and basketball. He recently attended the World Public Speaking and Debating Championship in the United States and placed first in the After Dinner Speech and third overall. During the last three summers, he volunteered in the remote and rural area of Northern Pakistan teaching students English and computer skills. | Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (Calgary) | The United World College of the American West (New Mexico, United States) |
Dr. Grant MacEwan
Dr. John Walter Grant MacEwan served as a Calgary alderman, the Mayor of Calgary, an MLA and as the Leader of the Alberta Liberal Opposition before being appointed Lieutenant-Governor of Alberta in 1966. He was well known for his travels throughout the province and easily won the hearts of Albertans.
Throughout his life, Grant MacEwan was a dedicated conservationist, historian and agriculturist. He wrote over 55 books on these topics. His work, as both an author and a statesman, won him many honours including the Alberta Order of Excellence and the Order of Canada.
Dr. MacEwan passed away on June 15, 2000.
