Fort McMurray, Alberta (August 28, 2019) Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta is thrilled to announce this year’s recipients of the Women of Inspiration Education Award. The scholarship recognizes women in the Wood Buffalo Region who are breaking barriers and igniting change through their post-secondary studies. This year the committee has selected from 40 applications. The 2019 recipients are: Mackenzie Velders, Briten Vacheresse and Malja Najmi-Beauchamp (photos attached)

Mackenzie Velders has been awarded the Ann Dort-MacLean Scholarship, which honours the founder of Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta by recognizing women who demonstrate a passion for youth empowerment and gender equality. The award is given to a qualified applicant with consideration to academic achievement, extracurriculars and community involvement. Velders is pursuing a Bachelor of Science from Grant MacEwan University. She says she would like to work in medical research studying Alzheimer’s, after watching her great grandfather pass from the disease. She hopes that young girls will see her pursuing a career in science and want to do the same. Velders belonged to Holy Trinity’s social justice club, Teens for Change. She says they worked to improve the lives of others, empower individuals and provide sustainable resources. Over her four years with the club they raised $50,000 to sponsor villages in third world countries. Velders also belonged to the steering committee for Three Things Wood Buffalo, which was a youth-led initiative aiming to spread positivity throughout the RMWB. Through securing funding, Velders was able to bring the REDress Project to the RMWB, which raises public awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. “Speaking to challenges that women face with such experience, her insight makes me believe she will pave big paths for others through leadership! The amount of social justice activity/advocacy she’s had (teens for change, bringing the REDress project to our community, etc). I just thought, if she’s accomplished this much so far, how far she might go with some support?” said Britainea Young, WOI Scholarship Committee.

The Elsie Yanik Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Briten Vacheresse. The scholarship is given to qualifying applicant of First Nations or Metis ancestry. Vacheresse is working toward a Bachelor degree in Child and Youth Care at MacEwan University. She says the children she has worked with over a practicum at Be Brave Ranch have changed her life and pushed her to recognize her passion of helping children overcome sexual abuse. Vacheresse says that sexual abuse is too common, especially among young girls and that she wants to play a part in teaching them that they have rights and can stand up for themselves. She adds that by achieving a bachelor degree in this field she will be able to challenge the community to step up and further help children. Vacheresse has taken part in Santas Anonymous since 2009 and regularly volunteers with the Metis Local and has been coaching ringette in the RMWB since 2015. “How she described her reasons for choosing the career path she’s on, and the fact that I felt as though I got to know her through her application. She was personable, it read as genuine, and it made me want to support someone like her doing what she is trying to achieve with our youth!” said Young.
The Barb Jewers Memorial Scholarship has been awarded to Malja Najmi-Beauchamp. This award honours a woman who demonstrates a sincere commitment to volunteerism and community activism. Beauchamp is attending the Calgary College of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture with plans to continue her education through a specialized course in China for cancer treatment. Beauchamp says she chose this course of education because her best friend passed away from cancer in Grade 12 and her grandmother also passed from colon cancer.

She says that once her education is complete she would like to move back to the Wood Buffalo Region and help Indigenous women in rural communities. She has already spent several weeks with Indigenous elders in the RMWB learning about their traditional lifestyles. Beauchamp has been involved in many non-profit organizations including Santas Anonymous, the Canadian Mental Health Association and the Mayor’s Advisory Council on Youth. She has also won numerous awards including the 2016 Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Citizen Recognition Award, Daughter of the Year and Flower of the Year. “The Wood Buffalo Citizens Award she received a few years ago demonstrates the commitment she’s shown to her community, it feels good to give something back to her to pursue her dream!” said Young.

Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta thanks every woman who applied for the scholarship and wishes them all the best as they pursue post-secondary education and hope they continue to inspire others to be strong, smart and bold.