Erin Fletcher
Northern News Services

Inuvik (Sep 01/03) - Candace Ciboci is already living out one of her dreams -- to go to university.

Candace Ciboci holds up the plaque she was presented for her academic excellence during a constituency meeting, Aug. 11, by Inuvik Twin Lake MLA Roger Allen. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

Ciboci, 18, and a 2002 grad from Samuel Hearne Secondary school in Inuvik, is going into her second year at the University of Alberta.

"In high school I always wanted to go to university, get out of this small town and see what else is out there," said Ciboci.

She took the goal very seriously by keeping up her grades and taking advantage of as many programs and extra-curricular activities as she could.

Ciboci earned a few awards along the way: the Governor General's bronze medal for academic excellence in 2001-2002, an honourable mention at the Canadian national science fair for her project on Fetal Alcohol Syndrome in 2001 and honour roll status in 2001.

Her latest award was presented to her by Inuvik Twin Lake MLA Roger Allen in recognition of her dedication, perseverance and academic accomplishments.

"It was very surprising," smiled Ciboci of the surprise presentation at a constituency meeting in Inuvik, Aug. 11.

Allen hopes Ciboci is an inspiration and role model to other Delta youth.

Ciboci, a middle child with five siblings, is the first in her family to graduate from high school.

She is in a geophysics program. She chose the study of the earth's physical formations because of her interest in mapping, mathematics -- all relevant to the search for oil and gas.

"You can go anywhere with gas and oil ... I've always wanted to travel around the world and do something I'm interested in doing."

But getting to where she is today wasn't an easy task.

She said peer pressure was the hardest thing to overcome while in high school. Friends would ask her to go out but her goal kept her on track.

"I always wanted to go past high school. I wasn't happy with just a diploma."

University has a different set of obstacles -- big classes and sharing the campus with 35,000 other students.

"It's hard being away from home and not having my Dad there for support and to wake me up in the morning," she said, adding her Dad sometimes gives her a wake-up call over the phone.

She said she felt prepared academically for university, especially in math -- her favourite subject.

"I don't think anything can prepare you for 450 students (in the same classroom) and a teacher who speaks to you on a microphone."