Darrell Greer
Northern News Services

Chesterfield Inlet (June 22/05) - Students from Victor Sammurtok school in Chesterfield Inlet and Inuglak school in Whale Cove have been awarded the prestigious Inuit Student Science Award.

Rebecca Sammurtok of Chester and Darryl Adjuk of Whale Cove were selected for the 2005 award by members of the Kivalliq Science Educators Community (KSEC).

Both Sammurtok and Adjuk will receive a certificate and a Dell Inspiron 1200 Notebook computer.

KSEC president Jim Kreuger says the annual science award is given to a graduating male and female student who demonstrate effort and achievement in science subjects, have participated in school and/or regional science fairs, and show an interest in pursuing a post-secondary education in a science-related field. "Rebecca will graduate from Victor Sammurtok school this year and plans on attending the Nunavut Sivuniksavut training program in Ottawa," says Kreuger.

"She has participated in numerous regional science fairs and camps, and was part of the Kivalliq delegation to attend the Canada-wide Science Fair in St. John's Newfoundland in 2004.

"Rebecca was also recently selected to participate in the Students on Ice expedition later this summer, during which she will travel to Iceland, Greenland and northern Baffin Island to study climate change."

Adjuk will be part of Inuglak school's first graduating class, and plans to begin the environmental-technology program in Iqaluit this coming fall.

He has attended both a regional fair and science- culture camp, where he further cemented his reputation for possessing strong leadership skills.

Inuglak principal Charlie Anderson says Adjuk displayed strong leadership skills throughout his final year at the school.

He says Adjuk made the community proud any time he represented the school at an event outside his hometown.

"Darryl worked extremely hard this past year and set a good example for other students to follow," says Anderson.

"He was actively involved in a number of extracurricular activities - including science, of course - and always gave 100 per cent with his efforts."