Seven Students Get IT Scholarships, Halifax

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."

One scholarship was awarded to a student in each of Nova Scotia's seven school boards. Richard Butler from Duncan MacMillan High School in Sheet Harbour won the scholarship in the Halifax regional school board.

During his high school years, Mr. Butler volunteered in the computer lab helping other students to learn various software applications, digital photography and video recording. He also worked on the school Web site and competed in the Nova Scotia Skills Competition, placing sixth in the Web page design category.

Recipients must use the scholarships to pursue IT programs at Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions. Mr. Butler plans to begin the computer electronics technician program at the Nova Scotia Community College, Institute of Technology Campus, in Halifax 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.