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Youth recognized with award Nunavut Law Foundation honors Grise Fiord teen with scholarship
Myles Dolphin
Northern News Services
Published Monday, September 30, 2013
AUSUITTUQ/GRISE FIORD
Grise Fiord youth Jessie Ningiuk is $500 richer after becoming the latest recipient of the Upinnaqtuq Award, given out annually by the Nunavut Law Foundation to youth in each of the territory's regions.
Jesse Ningiuk, a 17-year-old graduate from Grise Fiord, is the recipient of a $500 scholarship from the Nunavut Law Foundation. He was nominated by Tanya Cross, a teacher at Umimmak School, for his "potential and capacity to do whatever he sets his mind to." - NNSL file photo |
The award, in its third year, is in honor of Justice Beverly Browne, the Nunavut Court of Justice's first Senior Judge.
"She demonstrated great leadership in the community, and has a strong commitment and passion for working with youth," the Foundation's website states of Browne.
Ningiuk, who made headlines in June when he was his community's sole graduate, said he doesn't quite know how he is going to spend the money.
"I'll probably just set it aside for later," he said.
The 17-year-old was nominated by Umimmak School teacher Tanya Cross, who taught Ningiuk math last year.
She said she chose him because of his potential and capacity to do whatever he sets his mind to.
"I was so excited to share the good news with Jesse and his mother, who is the secretary at our school. He is a very gifted student, and was very respectful of his teachers and peers when he was in school."
The tiny High Arctic community, with a population of approximately 130 residents, doesn't offer much in the way of heavy machinery experience, which is the field Ningiuk would like to eventually work in.
Having recently finished his summer contract with Nunavut Power, he applied to study at a college in Morrisburg, Ont.
"I want to study as a heavy duty equipment operator there," he said.
"I don't quite know what I want to do later on though. Maybe become a mechanic."
Any member of the public could nominate a student or youth for the award, provided they "embodied peace, leadership, conflict resolution, or made strong efforts to change his/her attitude and behavior to become a role model."
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