Shashonee Paddy and her mother, Erma Gamble at the North West College Entrance Scholarship ceremony at North Battleford Comprehensive highschool on Nov.6. Paddy won the Pattison Media Scholarship and a Battleford Adult Education Committee Scholarship. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

By Kenneth Cheung

EFFORTS BEAR FRUIT

North West College celebrates students’ success with nearly $6K scholarships

Nov 7, 2024 | 1:33 PM

North West College (NWC) celebrated the academic achievements of 70 students from its North Battleford campus on Wednesday by awarding nearly $60,000 in scholarships.

This recognition transformed the countless sleepless nights and stressful moments they experienced throughout the semester into something truly worthwhile.

Shashonee Paddy, a Business Certificate student, was among the winners who brought home two prizes, including the Pattison Media Scholarship. She believes this honour not only recognizes her hard work but also a reward to her mother, who has been her biggest supporter since day one.

“My mom is a residential school survivor. For all my life, she said just try your hardest, and today, that came through. I did exactly the hardest I could do, and that hard work definitely paid off today,” she said.

Paddy’s mother, Erma Gamble, a fifth-generation residential school survivor, expressed how moving it was to witness her child, along with other Indigenous youth, thriving and receiving the recognition they deserve.

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She believes it’s important to support the vision of this new generation, a commitment she has embraced wholeheartedly by backing Paddy in every decision she made, allowing her to reach her full potential.

When asked what advice she would give the youth, she said, “ Keep going, reach for the best, and don’t limit yourself.”

“Education will get you where you want to be and take us out of poverty and everything that reaches for the stars,” she noted.

Dr. Eli Ahlquist, President AND CEO of NWC and Shashonee Paddy during the award presentation. (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

Looking toward the future, Paddy is eager to build upon her knowledge and seek opportunities to give back to her community, especially within Indigenous circles, which she feels have often been overlooked.

“I want to make sure that they don’t ever feel that way again,” Paddy said.

Another scholarship recipient, Madalin Barclay, also took home two prizes, and said her biggest motivation to keep going is the desire to ‘Do well.’

After being out of school for four years, she found it challenging to get back into the rhythm of studying when she first began at NWC. However, as a manager, she was determined to do her best and maximize her abilities.

To help ease into her schoolwork, Barclay explained, “ I always try to do my assignments the week before they’re due, so if I have any questions, I can get help so I feel prepared to do them the next few weeks.”

Madalin Barclay received the Stan Wychopen Memorial Battlefords Business Excellence (BBEX) Scholarship and the Choose NWC Award . (Kenneth Cheung/ battlefordsNOW staff)

She also advises all her schoolmates not to hesitate to apply for scholarships, as she had waited too long.

“I should have gone earlier, and also, I would say apply for every scholarship you can because I didn’t know I was going to get these both and I got them, so it helps,” Barclay noted.

The scholarships were made possible through the Saskatchewan Innovation and Opportunity Scholarship program, along with support from local sponsors such as Pattison Media and the Rotary Club of the Battlefords.

“We are privileged and proud to be able to ease the financial stresses that sometimes come with higher education, we hope that all recipients of this year’s scholarships fund feel supported in their programs, and this helps them along their journey to achieve their academic goals,” said Dr. Eli Ahlquist, president and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NWC.

Barclay got the Stan Wychopen Memorial Battlefords Business Excellence (BBEX) Scholarship of $2,000 and Choose NWC Award of $200. Paddy got a Pattison Media Scholarship of $1,500 and a Battleford Adult Education Committee Scholarship of $500.

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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com