SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Thanks to the Yellowknife Community Foundation, a new $1,000 scholarship will be awarded to second or subsequent year students at the Aurora College Yellowknife campus who are actively involved in the community.

"It's a scholarship that we're looking at giving to a student who's gone past that first year, and that we know is dedicated to completing their program," said Daryl Dolynny, president of the Yellowknife Community Foundation.

The foundation is a charitable group that accepts donations and bequests, manages the money and uses the investment income gained from it to fund community projects, such as the Gary Robinson Memorial Fund - which supplies financial support to search-and-rescue outfits.

Dolynny said this is going to be a big year for the foundation.

"This came from a fund which we've had, and it gets to a critical mass where we're able to pay out," said Dolynny.

"This is one of these things that you are going to see a lot more of. Right now the (Yellowknife) Community Foundation, we're giving well over $100,000 this fiscal year back to the community."

Tim Gauthier, manager of public affairs for Aurora College, said the scholarship is much appreciated by the college.

"Anything that eases some of the challenges that can come with post-secondary education is a welcome thing, and scholarships are one way of addressing that," said Gauthier.

"We're looking to assist a student who is actively involved in community activities in Yellowknife. I think the YCF will be deciding who the appropriate student is with some assistance from the college in identifying appropriate candidates," he said.

There are a variety of programs offered at the Yellowknife campus, including a two-year diploma program in management studies and a four-year bachelor of science in nursing program.

Gauthier said the scholarship money isn't specifically earmarked for anything - "it's just to provide students with additional support that would help them in the completion of their education."