2009 IT Scholarship Winners Announced

Six Nova Scotia graduates will get help with tuition next year as they set their sights on a career in IT.

Nova Scotia Business Inc. (NSBI) and the Information Technology Industry Alliance of Nova Scotia announced the 2009 winners of IT's Your Future Scholarship Program. The scholarships help offset tuition costs for Nova Scotia graduates pursuing studies in IT-related fields.

"Nova Scotia's knowledge economy is driven by skilled and educated young people," said Economic and Rural Development Minister Percy Paris. "This scholarship is a great example of how the public and private sectors can work together, support students, and highlight the important information technology sector in Nova Scotia."

The winners are:

• Cody Baxter, Middleton Regional High, Middleton
• Leah Brown, Charles P. Allen High School, Bedford
• Fred Chisholm, Chedabucto Place School/Guysborough Academy, Guysborough
• Justin Haynes, Middleton Regional High, Middleton
• Quinton McCamon, Northeast Kings Education Centre, Canning
• Jillian Morgan, Dr. John Hugh Gillis Regional High, Antigonish

IT's Your Future Scholarship Program is a partnership between NSBI and Information Technology Industry Alliance of Nova Scotia, a non-profit organization committed to promoting the growth and development of Nova Scotia's IT industry. The corporate industry sponsors are CGI and Research In Motion.

The program aims to raise awareness of the fast-changing industry with exciting career opportunities in Nova Scotia.

"Through this scholarship program and other initiatives, such as techportjobs.com, we're showing young people that the industry has changed and highlighting the many exciting jobs available right here in Nova Scotia," said Michael McConnell, CEO of the IT Alliance.

Valued at $2,000 each, the scholarships are awarded to Grade 12 students who have shown a high level of interest and enthusiasm for learning and are planning a career in IT.

Scholarship recipients must be conditionally accepted in the Nova Scotia Community College's Diploma in Information Technology, or an IT diploma or degree program at Acadia, Cape Breton, Dalhousie, Saint Mary's, or St. Francis Xavier universities.

"There's a future for information technology in Nova Scotia," said Stephen Lund, president and CEO of NSBI. "We have ambitious people here and it's up to us to show young Nova Scotians - and the many students who come here every year - what Nova Scotia has to offer."

Nova Scotia Business Inc. is Nova Scotia's private-sector-led business development agency. NSBI is the investment attraction arm of the province and helps businesses in Nova Scotia meet growth potential through advisory services, trade development, financing and venture capital.