TORONTO – June 7, 2024 – Prime Hat, the chief in scholar engagement options for increased training, is proud to announce that 4 distinctive First Nations college students have been awarded this yr’s Shannen’s Dream Scholarship. Launched in 2022 by the First Nations Child & Family Caring Society with the assist of Prime Hat and the Collure Household of Richmond Hill, ON, every recipient will obtain $10,000 to assist their pursuit of a post-secondary training.
“We’re really impressed by this yr’s Shannen’s Dream Scholarship recipients, each when it comes to their tutorial achievements and as volunteers and brokers of change inside their communities,” stated Maggie Leen, CEO of Prime Hat. “As future leaders, medical doctors, scientists, and educators, they exemplify what’s attainable when devoted people have entry to the advantages of upper training.”
The Scholarship is known as in honor of Shannen Koostachin, a brave younger chief from Attawapiskat First Nation who impressed a nationwide motion to ascertain protected and cozy colleges for First Nations college students. What makes the Shannen’s Dream Scholarship notably particular is the ‘pay-it-forward’ part, which requires recipients to make a measurable contribution to the Shannen’s Dream marketing campaign or associated First Nations initiative.
“Our scholarship recipients are honoring Shannen’s legacy by means of their management, their neighborhood contributions and their tutorial achievements,” stated Cindy Blackstock, Government Director of the Caring Society. “We’re grateful to Prime Hat and the Collure Household for his or her assist and for sharing our conviction {that a} extra equitable and simply society rests on making certain First Nations college students are capable of pursue their goals of a top quality training.”
Meet the 2024 Shannen’s Dream Scholarship Recipients
Aleria McKay was raised on Six Nations of the Grand River and is finishing her Bachelor of Schooling at York’s Waaban Indigenous Instructor Schooling Program. A poet, playwright and educator, this fall she’s going to begin her Masters of Superb Arts in Inventive Writing on the College of British Columbia.
Jaimey Jacobs is Ojibwe and a band member of the Walpole Island First Nation. A primary yr medical scholar on the Schulich College of Medication and Dentistry at Western College, Jaimey is a passionate advocate for Indigenous healthcare and supporting Indigenous youth in navigating instructional alternatives inside the healthcare career.
Rainbird Daniels is Plains Cree, Yankton Sioux, and Dakota from the Sturgeon Lake First Nation. She is pursuing a level in Psychology at York College in Toronto the place she additionally serves because the President of the Indigenous Pupil Affiliation. As an Indigenous Languages Specialist on the Centre for Indigenous Data and Languages, she is deeply dedicated to selling cultural consciousness and advancing human rights.
Taylor Nicholls is from the Wahnapitae First Nation and is pursuing a Grasp’s of Science in Biology at Laurentian College. Her thesis includes assessing numerous environmental contaminants in fish the Wahnapitae First Nation depends on as a conventional meals supply. Taylor is an ardent environmentalist whose analysis includes weaving Western science, citizen science, and conventional ecological information.
About Shannen’s Dream Scholarship
The Shannen’s Dream Scholarship was established to help First Nations youth with the monetary burdens of post-secondary training. The scholarship honors Shannen Koostachin, whose advocacy for protected and cozy colleges for First Nations college students ignited a nationwide motion. This scholarship goals to proceed her legacy by empowering First Nations college students to attain their instructional aspirations. To study extra, please go to www.fncaringsociety.com.
About Prime Hat
Because the chief in scholar engagement options for increased training, Prime Hat allows educators to make use of evidence-based instructing practices by means of interactive content material, instruments, and actions in in-person, on-line and hybrid classroom environments. 1000’s of college at 750 main North American schools and universities use Prime Hat to create significant, participating and accessible studying experiences for college students earlier than, throughout, and after class. To study extra, please go to tophat.com.