10 minute read
Student Award Winners
Peggy Prendergast, Chair, Student Awards Committee
The RTAM Endowment Fund that was established with $50,000 in 2013 at the Winnipeg Foundation provided four $500 awards that year. This year, four $1000 awards were presented to four Grade 12 graduates who are relatives of the RTAM members who were their sponsors. Scholarship, school involvement and community volunteer endeavours were the criteria used by the committee that evaluated the sixty applications that were received this year.
The seeming magic of compounding has increased the fund over the past seven years as well as the generosity of RTAM members who have donated to the fund, often in memoriam for a friend or relative, or who have chosen to remember RTAM with a donation in their will. A total of thirty four young people with life and education goals for their future have benefitted financially from this RTAM endeavor over the past seven years. However on average 50 students a year, or at least 350 students have benefitted from the interest their parent, grandparent, aunt or uncle has shown them in believing in them enough to sponsor them for this award and encouraging them in their quest for further knowledge. RTAM members with a passion for education have sponsored these future leaders of our country. Congratulations! You are leaving a “Legacy of Learning.” Our website www.rtam.mn.ca will give anyone interested in joining this group of our membership with this vision, direction on how to donate. All donations are tax deductible.
RTAM 2020 Student Award Winners
RTAM is pleased to congratulate the following winners and their sponsors for 2020:
Award Winner Location Sponsor Relationship Toni Koshowski Dauphin Nadia Yakielashek Grandmother Shanaya McMillan St. Francois Xavier Sylvia E. Sweetland Grandmother Serena Werbowesky Winnipeg Yvonne Crampton Grandmother Mollie Wheeler Morden George O. Turner Grandfather
Toni Koshowski Shanaya McMillan Serena Werbowesky Mollie Wheeler
Toni Koshowski
I am attending the University of Calgary and my plans include, completing my Bachelor of Science Honours with a major in Neuroscience and then continuing on to study medicine. I am hoping to explore more educational opportunities while completing my undergraduate degree. I hope to continue to be involved in volunteering through sport in some capacity, continue playing hockey as well as become involved in student groups on campus.
Shanaya McMillan
Over the next four years, I plan to complete an Honours degree in Computer Science at the University of Manitoba while maintaining involvement in extracurricular activities. After graduation, I am not yet certain of my career path, but I am interested in working with artificial intelligence or software development. I’m thankful to the teachers in my life who helped me accomplish the things that I have. There were a few of them who made a large impact on my decisions in high school that will carry into university.
Serena Werbowesky
Having completed my IB Diploma at Miles Macdonnell Collegiate, I have chosen to do my first degree in my home city of Winnipeg, in the Department of Mathematics at the University of Manitoba. I plan to explore different areas of mathematical research with summer jobs, and I have already completed one summer experience researching non-standard base systems and matrix operations, under Dr. Robert Craigen. After completing an Honours degree in Pure Mathematics, I plan to continue on with graduate studies in mathematics at another university, one possibility being the University of Waterloo.
Mollie Wheeler
I am enrolled at the University of Lethbridge in a combined degree program. This next year I am doing my courses online from my home in Morden, MB, but look forward to moving west next fall! My plan is to graduate with a Bachelor of Science, with a major in Mathematics, as well as a Bachelor of Education. The combined degree program will allow me to graduate to teach high school math and physics courses. I am so thankful for this opportunity from the Retired Teachers’ Association and for my grandpa for helping me apply.
Responses we received from the RTAM members who sponsored the 2014 Award winners and what they are doing after graduating from University.
Alexandra Magas
Submitted by Shirley Augustine (grandmother) After graduating from River East Collegiate in 2014, Alexandra enrolled in a first year program of studies preparatory to studying to be a psychologist. The monies received enabled her to finance her university year; she did very well. After her first year Alexandra decided to take a year off from studies to travel – travelling to Spain, Portugal and Morocco. In August 2016, Alexandra started a position as a nanny in Melbourne, Australia; once the position ended she worked at other jobs to finance a trip around Australia. Alexandra also travelled to New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Returning to Canada in November 2017, Alexandra enrolled in a beginner French language course; in January 2020 she was enrolled in an intermediate level at UBC.
In April 2018 Alexandra travelled to Antwerp, Belgium to work and immerse herself in the culture. She enrolled in a course to learn Dutch through a government grant program. After completing two levels and using what she learned she worked as a waitress; she also progressed to reading books in Dutch and watching Dutch films.
Because of the experiences learned from her sampling of the world, Alexandra has chosen to change her focus of study to International Relations. She is currently enrolled in a four year program of Global Relations at UBC. Upon completion of this degree, she plans on taking a Masters Program at some university yet to be decided.
Shirley Augustine (grandmother) sent a further letter dated January 14, 2020 after contacting her granddaughter Alexandra Magas asking her for “a chronological order of the happenings in her life since here graduation from high school.” The following is the account sent.
My grand daughter, Alexandra Magas, has been on a very interesting and exciting life journey since her graduation from River East Collegiate in June of 2015.
She was a very fortunate young lady to be the recipient of one of the RTAM Scholarships. She received other scholarships that year as well, including an entrance one for the U of W. In September of 2015, she enrolled in ta first year program of studies preparatory to studying to be a psychologist. The monies received enabled her to finance her university year. She did very well.
At the end of term, however, she decided to take a year off from studying and do some travelling. It began with a two week adventure tour of Costa Rica. Then it was a longer tour of Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. In August of 2016, she applied for a position as nanny to a family in Melbourne, Australia. She was granted a work visa for one year. When the six month nanny term ended, she worked at many and various jobs to finance the next part of the plan. She wanted to explore Australia extensively and managed to circumvent the continent in a camper van. We, her family, back home in Canada, followed the progress of this trip closely by means of maps and texting. Next she visited and explored New Zealand, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, and spent an extensive period of time in Sri Lanka and Myanmar.
Returning to Canada in November of 2017, she enrolled in a beginner French language course with Alliance Francaise du Manitoba. She is currently taking the intermediate level at UBC.
In April 2018, she travelled to Antwerp, Belgium to work and immerse herself in the culture of that country. She was enrolled in a course to learn the Dutch language through a government grant program called Atlas Integrate en Invurgering Antarrpen. After completing two levels she was able to work in a restaurant as a Dutch speaking server. She progressed to reading books in Dutch and to enjoy watching Dutch films.
The experience of travel and immersion in Dutch language courses and culture sparked an interest and desire to learn more about the world and its people beyond the borders of her home country Canada. She say: (quote): “There is so much to see, and to learn, and to do, out there!” She believes that it is the responsibility of all world citizens to make this world of ours a better, safer, and healthier place to live.
Because of the experiences learned from her sampling of the world, Alexandra has chosen to change her focus of study to International Relations. She says (quote): “I want to promote ethical values, perspectives, and practices to enable all people to have better living conditions with a safe and sound future. I have learned so much but I want to learn more.”
Alexandra is currently enrolled in a four year program of Global Relations at UBC. Upon completion of this degree, she plans on taking a Masters Program at some university yet to be decided. It was not an easy journey since that decision in the spring of 2016 to take one year off from studying. That one year turned into three eventful years. She had to work long hours to finance the travels, but, in her words, (quote): “It was all worth it!” It won’t be an easy journey either over the next four years but I am sure in the end she will conclude that it, too, was all worth it!
Alexandra has grown into a mature young woman who thrives on the love of learning. Graduation day in June of 2015 marked the beginning of a new path of learning. Our entire family has supported her choices and celebrated her many accomplishments and will continue to do so as she “travels” into a promising future.
As the Student Award Committee Chair, I would like to add that I am sure all of RTAM also celebrates this family’s success in encouraging this love of learning in this young person’s life. Isn’t that what we wish for all our former students and all our young relatives?
Taneisha Dumas
Submitted by sponsor Elizabeth Michalot (grandmother) My granddaughter, Taneisha Dumas, found her award beneficial as it helped her achieve her dream of becoming a nurse.
Taneisha graduated from the University of Manitoba in June 2019 with a Bachelor of Nursing degree and wrote her national exam (NCLEX) getting her Registered Nursing status. She is currently working at the Children’s Hospital in Winnipeg and thoroughly enjoying it.
Nicholas Bonin
Submitted by sponsor Pat Vandal (grandmother) Nicholas went on after school to become a Page in the House of Commons. At that time he completed an Arts degree. Upon returning to Winnipeg he attended St. Boniface University and completed a Bachelor of Education. He graduated in June 2019 and is presently teaching Grade 6 in a full time position.
The RTAM Student Awards fund allowed him to pursue his education and achieve his goal of becoming a teacher.
Halle Hayhurst
Submitted by sponsor Al Robertson Since receiving the RTAM Student Award, my granddaughter Halle Hayhurst has graduated from the University of Manitoba and is currently attending law school at the University of Nebraska College of Law. With the help of scholarships, Halle was able to avoid much of the financial stress associated with attending post-secondary education and focus on her studies. Because of that, she was able to receive a Bachelor of Science General degree with focuses in Biology and Microbiology in 2019. While completing her science degree, Halle determined that she wanted to pursue a legal career. Once on that path, she completed the LSAT and applied to three schools: the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan, and the University of Nebraska. She was accepted to all three programs but ultimately decided to leave her alma mater and join the University of Nebraska, which offered a scholarship to cover her tuition. Currently, in her second of three years, she is enjoying her courses and has completed one summer as a law clerk with Baird Holm LLP in Omaha, also accepting the same position for next summer.
