The 2008 C.S.T. Foundation Graduate Award Recipients

This year, our Graduate Award Program recognizes 10 outstanding recipients of Education Assistance Payments from the Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan who are pursuing graduate studies. Each award is valued at $15,000 and divided between two students who each receive $7,500 toward their studies. The program was created in 1984 to honour individuals who have had a significant role in the history of the Foundation, and to promote excellence in the pursuit of higher education. This program has paid out more than $1,000,000 in post-graduate awards since inception. Congratulations to this year's recipients!

Peter Wright Award

Jamie Wayne Huckabay

Lethbridge, Alberta
Jamie graduated from University of Lethbridge with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and has been accepted to Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC to follow a Masters in International Relations.

His undergraduate work at Lethbridge University enabled him to win a competitive Chinook Research Fellowship from the Government of Alberta in 2006, generating research that was presented last year at the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States. His interest in international economic relations secured him a co op position with the Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. He is also the Co-founder and co-chair of the Students for Tobacco Reduction which helps the Government of Alberta with funding to help create cessation programs.

When time permits Jamie has been active in sports such as mountaineering and climbing in the Canadian Rockies near Lethbridge.

Joseph Wesley Richards II

Hanmer, Ontario
Joseph graduated from University of Ottawa, with a Degree in Civil Law, and has been accepted to University of Ottawa to follow a National Program in Common Law for Civil Law graduates.

While at University Joseph was a member of the Liberal Party of Canada, both provincially and federally and worked on two local campaigns in the riding of Nickel Belt. He was instrumental in creating the first Bill of Residents' Rights in the history of the university. He was also involved in Pro Bono Students Canada, which voluntarily provides legal assistance to members of the community. He also represented the University's debate team in 2004-05.

Apart from his busy schedule he actively participates in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and has a keen interest in music.

Arthur Pigott Award

Francesca Victoria Mancuso

Trenton, Ontario
Francesca obtained a Bachelor of Health Sciences (Hons.) degree from University, of Western Ontario, and will be pursuing a M.Sc., in Health and Rehabilitation program at the same Univeristy.

During undergraduate years, Francesca represented the University's Students' Council and served during 2004-2005. She also represented the UWO as a Member of Save of Children, a fundraising and awareness event about social justice issues affecting children in developing countries. She also volunteered as a mentor at Foundations of Friendship and Faith Youth Centre helping with at-risk teens and young adults as a positive peer mentor.

With her expertise with In-Design computer programming skills at UWO she was selected to produce the ISS Newsletter Fall and Winter Editions and was promoted as VIP Newsletter Editor, which responsibility she held until the Fall of 2007. Upon completion of her Master's degree in Health Rehabilitation Sciences Francesca plans to pursue a career in the field of Health promotion.

Sarah Jane Atkinson

North Vancouver, British Columbia
Sarah graduated from University of Victoria British Columbia with a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and has been accepted to the same University to follow two-year programs in Master of Occupational Therapy and Master of Counselling Psychology.

Among her academic contributions Sarah was on the University's Dean's List, a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. She also received the UBC President's Scholarship.

Sarah volunteered her time as a Peer Helper at the University of Victoria Counselling Services from 2004-07 as a Peer Helper and volunteer at a drop-in-office in order to provide confidential support services to university students. She also served as a Member of the Wellness Committee assisting in organizing and participating in the Disordered Eating Awareness program.

Rowland Lloyd Award

Shazia Hira Chaudhry

Kanata, Ontario
Shazia graduated from the University of Ottawa, Ontario with a Bachelor of Science (Honors) degree in Biomedical Science and has been accepted to follow a M.Sc. Epidemiology program at the same University.

While at the University of Ottawa Shazia worked as a research student and was involved in the University Summer Student Program where she organized group meetings for students to learn about ongoing research at the Ottawa Health Research Institute, General Campus. For her work she was awarded the Multicultural Community Services Ottawa Scholarship.

During her spare time she devotes her time in teaching a 7-year old child to read Arabic. She also attends weekly focus groups to discuss cultural issues and current events and takes an interest in Martial Arts and Karate.

Amanda MacDonald

New Glasgow, Nova Scotia
Amanda graduated from St. Francis Xavier University of Nova Scotia, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Kinetics, and is following a four-year MD program at SABA University of School of Medicine, Netherlands-Antilles.

Among her academic and social achievements, in 2007 Amanda worked as a Member of the Human Kinetics, X-Cure and X-Tending Hope Societies. She also completed the NCCP Coaching Level I and volunteered at High Crest Home by developing a weekly physical program for Seniors. In 2004 Amanda participated in a mission trip to Cuba and helped build a house for a desperately poor couple.

Following completion of medical school Amanda plans to return home to rural Pictou County and work as a practising physician.

Gladys Neale Award

Ardith Jonete Bailey

Coquitlam, British Columbia
Ardith graduated from the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC with a Bachelor of Arts – English honours degree and has been accepted to follow a 12-month Master of Arts in English Literature program at the University of Toronto.

While at University of British Columbia, Ardith worked as an Undergraduate English Teaching Assistant for the Departments of Forestry and Conservation. In terms of social contributions, Ardith made a significant contribution to her community in her work in support of social justice in Guatemala, when she traveled to a Guatemalan village of Quixaya with ten other students and helped build houses for the needy.

Ardith has represented her congregation at Holy Trinity Anglican Cathedral as a responsible, dedicated Youth Member for three years demonstrating her maturity and her ability to communicate well with an audience whose average age is older than hers.

Kaitlin Nell Breton-Honeyman

Rockwood, Ontario
Kaitlin graduated from Trent University, Ontario with a Honors in Biology degree and has been accepted to follow a two year graduate program in Environmental and Life Sciences at the same university. During her undergraduate studies Kaitlin was chosen to work as a research assistant for Dr. C. Furgal a recent recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. She was given the opportunity to work with a team of people conducting a regional public health and environmental health assessment in the Inuvialuit Settlement Region of the Northwest Territories.

Among her academic accomplishments, she is writing a research paper on “Climate Change, Public Health and Safety in the Arctic” which investigates the Inuit vulnerability and resilience through land based safety and search and rescue efforts in the North West Territories.

During her spare time, Kaitlin job coaches with an adult with autism. Volunteered as a Judges Coordinator at the Peterborough Regional Science Fair.

Kenneth LeM Carter Award

Sarah Naomi Steeves

Riverview, New Brunswick
Sarah graduated from Mount Saint Vincent University, Halifax, Nova Scotia with a Child and Youth Study program and has received entrance to McGill University to follow a M.Sc. in Human Communication Disorders.

During her undergraduate years Sarah has had a variety of experiences in influencing the social community and becoming involved in many volunteer programs. She volunteered with the Fountain Play Centre, a program which offers extremely affordable child care to student parents. She was a Campus Coordinator for the Best Buddies Canada Chapter at her university, where she received the opportunity to recruit, and interview student volunteers and plan group meetings, activities and fundraisers. Later on, she began tutoring with the Learning Disabilities Association of Nova Scotia LINKS Literacy Program.

Among the many accomplishments during her university career, in 2004 she was awarded the YMCA Volunteer Tutor Award and the Ron Smith Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Community Service.

Julienne Marie Isaacs

Winnipeg, Manitoba
Julienne graduated from University of Winnipeg, Manitoba with a four-year Bachelor or Arts degree in Rhetoric and Communications and has received a position at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK to follow a MA in Creative Writing.

Some of Julienne's academic contributions have been serving as a volunteer staff writer for the University of Winnipeg's student newspaper, The Uniter. Volunteering as an outreach coordinator for the University of Winnipeg's Intervarsity Christian Fellowship Executive.

Among her accomplishments, in 2007 Julienne was selected to represent her University as a Student Representative to the UNESCO-sponsored Power of Peace Network Conference at the University of Waterloo, Ontario. That same year she took part in the University's Human Rights Conference and following the conference she wrote a paper examining the rhetoric of human rights at the local and international level which was well received by the University.