Shona Poitras (right) poses for a family picture with her two kids, her son Treyton Poitras and her daughter Nikayla Poitras. She received a $3,250 scholarship this year in April due to her outstanding academic performance in NorthWest College. (submitted photo/Shona Poitras)

By Kenneth Cheung

BUILDING A BETTER FUTURE

Single mother receives scholarship and hopes to give back to her community

Sep 13, 2024 | 3:57 PM

An Indigenous scholarship recipient hopes to use her knowledge to contribute to the community and as a single mother, build a better foundation for her kids.

Shona Poitras received the Northwest College (NWC) Board of Governors Entrance Scholarship and the Gordon Tucker Memorial Scholarship in April this year, totalling $3,250.

“I’m 38 years old, and I want to further my education and be a role model for them (her children),” she said.

“I want my kids to know it’s not too late to try to become something good.”

NWC recently launched an over $100,000 scholarship to assist students with their academic journey.

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“These funds reduce barriers for students in our programs, and we know that the results are improved stress, higher achievement, and ultimately a stronger workforce and community,” Dr. Eli Ahlquist, president of NWC, said in a release.

Poitras is from Saulteaux First Nation, located 43 kilometers north of North Battleford. She recalled that to be up to par for the scholarship; she needed to strike a good balance between mothering and being a good student. As it is always easy to talk the talk, doing the do takes a huge commitment, but she said it had never been a problem for her.

“I’m one of those people that if I set my mind, there’s not really much that can hold me back,” she said. “If I want to do something, I’m going to give it 110%.”

Poitras further explained that obtaining the funds is not just for her benefit, but also to secure a better future for her children, as she believes there is no better way to achieve that than by going back to school.

“I want to encourage my kids to do well at school and let them know that I was doing the same thing as them: being in school and trying to work hard and become successful,” she said.

“I want to be a benefit to our community. I want to be able to share my knowledge. I want to be able to Influence people to work hard.”

According to a release from NWC, the fund is made possible by the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship (SIOS) Program, supported by the provincial government.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com