Two Lambton College students have been named recipients of $10,000 scholarships named for the late John Wesley Beaver, a fighter pilot during the Battle of Britain and chief of Aderville First Nation.
A total of six John Wesley Beaver Memorial Scholarships for Indigenous students were announced May 4 by Ontario Power Generation.
Recipients from Sarnia’s Lambton College include Robyn Gray, an office administration student from Aamjiwnaang First Nation, and William Partridge, a chemical engineering student from Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte.
“Being a voice for my community and having the ability to advocate is a key focus for me,” Gray said in a news release.
“Using the proceeds of this scholarship to help continue my formal education will allow me to serve my community in a role aimed at streamlining processes to increase productivity in a variety of settings.”
Beaver joined Ontario Power Generation’s predecessor in 1949 as a junior engineer and the scholarship program named in his memory began in 1995.
Ontario Power Generation (OPG) partnered with Indspire’s scholarships and awards program in 2021 to expand the scholarships to allow for 20 $10,000 awards over three years. Inspire is a national Indigenous charity.
“We are pleased to continue this productive partnership with OPG,” said Indspire CEO Mike DeGagné.
“Not only does the John Wesley Beaver Memorial Scholarship remove barriers to Indigenous success, it also creates significant opportunities for Indigenous students who are committed to changing the landscape in Canada through positive action.”
Information about the scholarship can be found online at www.opg.com/careers/student-awards.
“Continuing my education has allowed me to join the Lambton College Indigenous Student Centre,” Partridge said in the news release.
“This has given me many opportunities for growth, including serving for a time as Indigenous Student Council vice-president. This scholarship allows me to continue to focus on this growth and learning.”
Other scholarship recipients announced this week include: Jordan St. Amand, a University of Western Ontario civil engineering student; Oliver Kramer, a Queen’s University computer engineering student; Justin Thompson, a York University – Osgoode Hall Law School student; Jordon Jensen, a George Brown College computer programmer analyst student.