 | E-mail this story |  | Write letter to editor |  | Order a classified ad |
| E-mail this story | | Write letter to editor | | Order a classified ad |
 Bursary winners were honoured in a ceremony Wednesday afternoon. From left to right: Jeffrey Bowden; Minister of Transportation Joseph Handley; Jan Levicek; Carolyn George; Corey Mound; Ryan Byrne; Terri Arychuk NATA director; and past president Carmen Loberg, president of Canadian North. - Angela Wilson/NNSL photo |
Angela Wilson
Northern News Services
The students qualified to receive the bursaries through the Aviation Career Development Program, a partnership bursary co-funded by the Department of Transportation and Canadian North, and supported by the Northern Air Transport Association.
The students were honoured in a short ceremony at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre Wednesday afternoon.
Nancey Steven-Whiteman of Norman Wells and Yellowknife residents Corey Mound, Norman Byrne, Robin Sorenson, Jeffrey Bowden, Carolyn George, Gord Stephenson and Jan Levicek were this year's bursary winners.
To be eligible for the bursary, students had to be an NWT resident for a minimum of two years, been accepted or conditionally accepted to a recognized academic or technical aviation program and intend to return to work in the NWT upon completion of their studies.
To enter into the selection process, applicants needed to provide a career plan focusing on an occupation within the aviation industry, an essay explaining the applicant's interest in the aviation field and why they have chosen to enter the field, their scholastic history, two letters of references and a resume.
Bursary winner Carolyn George said even now, it was hard to believe she had won.
"I'm still kind of in shock," she said.
"I've heard that when I do finish school, I'll be the first woman graduate (in the aviation industry) North of 60, which is a little weird."
Jeffrey Bowden, another winner, said it was wonderful to win the bursary.
"I think it's great," he said. "I'm doing my pilot's licence and it's really expensive. This will really help towards tuition."
Minister of Transportation Joseph Handley was also on hand to congratulate the winners.
"This bursary program responds to a need identified by the Department of Transportation to encourage and assist students from the NWT in their studies for careers in the aviation industry," he said.
"Aviation has played a key role in the development of the North and will continue to be a vital factor in our continuing economic growth. We are very grateful for the support this program has received from Canadian North and NATA."
