Seven Students Get IT Scholarships, Southwest

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. Graham Keech from Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School won the scholarship in the Southwest regional school board.

During his high school years, Mr. Keech learned about computers by taking them apart. He removed each part of his parents' two computers, carefully noted where they belonged, cleaned them and put them back together.

Recipients must use the scholarships to pursue IT programs at Nova Scotia post-secondary institutions. Mr. Keech plans to begin the computer service technician program at the Nova Scotia Community College, Burridge Campus, in Yarmouth 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.