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Ashley Mulders (centre) shows off her acceptance letter for a $60,000 scholarship with Sir John Franklin principal Ed Lippert and her teacher of four years, Micheline Ricard in Sir John Franklin School's library Thursday. - Kevin Allerston/NNSL photo

SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A Sir John Franklin High School student has been awarded a $60,000 scholarship to attend Queen's University in Kingston, Ont.

Ashley Mulders, 17, found out the news Wednesday when her mom called to tell her a letter from the university had arrived in the mail.

"I ran home and opened it and saw I was awarded $60,000," said Mulders, who is still elated from the news.

"I didn't really believe it. You never expect that you're going to get something like this. It's just such a great honour and the school has great programs, so I'm just really excited."

The letter, dated Feb. 1, stated the Grade 12 student was being offered a Queen's University's Chernoff Family Award for her "superior academic achievement."

With an average grade of 94.7 per cent, Mulders, who is in French immersion, surpassed the prerequisite, which requires applicants to have an average grade of 90 per cent or higher.

The scholarship also guarantees her a residence at the university during her first year of study. She said she had been applying for scholarships in November, but never actually expected to be accepted.

"I didn't think that I had much of a chance at all," she said. "It's just something you don't think you're going to get."

Mulders said she plans to study engineering at university, and that she has always enjoyed math and physics.

"I want to get into sustainable energy and research different energy solutions," she said. Although Mulders was surprised at news of her scholarship, teaching staff at the high school weren't.

"We're not particularly surprised by this because Ashley is actually a Minister's Awards winner in two programs last year," said Sir John Franklin principal Ed Lippert.

Mulders took the award for achieving top marks on her English Language Arts 30 and Pure Mathematics 30 departmental exam.

"She is humble and she never says she's the best or anything like that," said teacher Micheline Ricard, who has taught Mulders French language arts and social studies for four years. "Oh, I'm so proud of her."

Mulders said she would have been able to go to university anyway because her parents had saved up some money and she had planned to work to pay her tuition, but that the scholarship certainly makes things easier.

"She's always been a hard worker and a bright girl and as a father I'm obviously quite proud that she is getting that kind of a scholarship," said Robert Mulders, Ashley's father.

Her mother, Donna Mulders, said "(Ashley) should be proud of herself.

"As any mother would be, I'm ecstatic. She's put a lot of hard work in over the years and to be recognized like that is pretty impressive," she said.

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