Rankin wrestler wins scholarship
Adds bronze medal to AWG haul
Casey Lessard
Northern News Services
Published Wednesday, April 2, 2014
RANKIN INLET/FAIRBANKS, ALASKA
Johnny Misheralak of Rankin Inlet brought home an academic scholarship, along with his bronze medal in Inuit wrestling, from the 2014 Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska, this past month.
Johnny Misheralak of Rankin Inlet examines a troll doll he received along with a $500 president's scholarship at the Arctic Winter Games in Fairbanks, Alaska, this past month. The scholarship will double to $1,000 if Misheralak attends a University of the Arctic affiliate school. - Casey Lessard/NNSL photo |
Misheralak, 17, was one of only nine athletes at the AWG to win the $500 president's scholarship to help with his post-secondary education.
If Misheralak decides to attend a University of the Arctic affiliated school, the scholarship will then double to $1,000.
The 2014 AWG host society's president, Jeff Jacobson, announced the scholarship winners during the closing ceremonies.
Misheralak said he is set to graduate this year, and was happy to win the scholarship on the strength of his essay on the Northern Dream.
He said he still hasn't decided what school he will attend for his postsecondary studies.
"I wrote about how I want to get a good paying job, and how I want to keep our culture alive, mainly hunting and speaking Inuktitut," said Misheralak.
"That's the language of Nunavut and my ancestors' language."
The manager of Nunavut's wrestling team, Danielle Fitzgerald of Arviat, said winning the scholarship shows how hard Misheralak has worked.
She said the young athlete earned the scholarship.
"He's an amazing kid who plans on becoming an electrician," said Fitzgerald.
"It's an excellent opportunity for him, and I'm glad he won it."
