Tony Johnstone Scholarship Awarded to Yarmouth Student

Maryn Stockman of Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School is the 2002 winner of the Dr. P. Anthony Johnstone Memorial Fund Entrance Scholarship.

The $6,000 award was presented to Ms. Stockman Thursday night at the high school's graduation ceremony.

The scholarship, which honours the late educator and human rights advocate Tony Johnstone, is awarded for academic achievement and leadership in student, cultural and community affairs.

"This scholarship encourages young people to learn about human rights issues in Canada, so that they can continue bringing about the social change Dr. Johnstone worked so hard to achieve," said Education Minister Jane Purves. "I'm pleased to congratulate Ms. Stockman on her award and on her efforts as a leader of cultural and youth activities in her community."

During her high school years, Ms. Stockman has tutored other students, taught Sunday school classes, volunteered at a seniors' home and worked as a day-camp leader. She also organized an international post-card exchange to broaden her fellow students' perspectives of other cultures.

"Lots of people don't realize how important it is to live together as a global community," said Ms. Stockman. "Receiving this award was one of the proudest moments of my life because it stands for something that's very important to me."

Applicants for the scholarship are required to submit an original essay on positive solutions to resolve current human rights issues that confront Canadians. In her essay, Ms. Stockman highlighted the challenges faced by immigrant women who are abused by their spouses. She suggested that one way to help these women is to provide services and information in their own languages.

Ms. Stockman will further her studies in English and French through the bachelor of arts program at Mount Allison University this fall. She hopes to spend a year of the program at l'Université de Strasbourg in France. After teaching abroad, she would like to start a school for immigrants in Canada.

Students eligible to apply for next year's Tony Johnstone Scholarship may obtain applications from school guidance counsellors early in 2003. The application deadline is March 31, 2003.