Seven Students Get IT Scholarships

Seven high school graduates from Nova Scotia received $1,000 each this week to pursue post-secondary studies in information technology.

The Department of Education awarded the scholarships to students who made good use of information technology either to further their own learning or to support others in their schools or communities.

"These scholarship winners share a natural drive to learn and have taught themselves a lot of what they know about computers," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "With further formal studies in IT, these young Nova Scotians can help grow the province's economy with their knowledge, skills and ideas."

This year's recipients used technology for their school work, developed school and community Web sites, volunteered in computer labs and refurbished old computers to give to single-parent families.

One scholarship was awarded to a student in each of Nova Scotia's seven school boards. This year's recipients are:

• Richard Butler, Duncan MacMillan High School, Sheet Harbour;
• Christian Kitner, Horton High School, Wolfville;
• Mark Andrecyk, Glace Bay High School, Glace Bay;
• Travis Smith, West Pictou District High School, Pictou;
• Todd Chiasson, École NDA, Cheticamp;
• Graham Keech, Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School, Yarmouth; and
• Ian Kennedy, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High School, Antigonish.

Recipients must use the scholarships to pursue IT programs at Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions. This year's recipients will attend the Nova Scotia Community College and Dalhousie and St. Francis Xavier universities this fall.

The scholarships have been part of Nova Scotia's Information Economy Initiative which began in 1998. Funding for scholarships came from KnowledgeHouse, which was a supplier of technology for the initiative. The company provided funding for 21 scholarships over three years.

The Information Economy Initiative is a federal/provincial project which has co-ordinated the investment of more than $90 million in Internet connections, hardware, software, technical support and professional development for schools, universities and communities across Nova Scotia.