Fort McMurray, July 2015 – The three $5000 scholarships are being awarded to female students from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, who are pursuing a post- secondary education, be it through college, university or technical/trade school. This year’s scholarships are being awarded to: Melanie Dene, Maria Higuerey & Serena Dixon.

Melanie Dene
Melanie has been accepted by the University of Regina, First Nations University of Canada. She will be working towards her degree in Indigenous Studies. Once her two year undergraduate degree is completed, she will be applying to Law School. Her drive and strength and passion is to become a successful lawyer in Aboriginal Law. She hopes to earn her law degree from the University of Saskatechewan – through their Program of Legal Studies for Native People.

Melanie’s goals are to work with First Nations communities to help them develop stronger strategies to improve enhancement of economic development, stronger consultation policies and overall stronger healthier communities. Education is her road to being an even better role model not only for her two young daughters but for all aboriginal youth.

Maria Higuerey
Maria’s plans for her future is to attend the University of Alberta to earn her mechanical engineering degree. She believes that her innate problem solving and critical thinking skills will ensure her success. Her long term goals are to pursue a career in the Canadian Armed Forces as an aeronautical or aerospace engineer.

Maria’s extracurricular activities include the Air Cadet Program. She is currently a Warrant Officer Second Class. Her dream is to become a pilot and to match this with her engineering goals.

Maria’s commitment to her community and her career goals will serve her well in her educational pursuits.

Serena Dixon
Serena sees her path in life to help people and communities. To accomplish this she is working towards her Bachelor of Social Work at the University of Calgary. She first connected with the Association of Social Workers through their website and immediately saw the connect between her personal values and their professional values. She will be exploring fields of work in addictions, homelessness, family violence, aboriginal issues, counselling.

Her long term goals are to earn her Masters of Social Work.

Serena’s mantra is a quote from Martin Luther King “ our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about things that matter.”

Serena’s extracurricular activities and volunteer commitments include volleyball.. She gives her time to an Adapted Physical Activity program run at the U of C. She thoroughly enjoys the opportunity to help children with physical challenged youth strive and achieve.

Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta are proud to help these amazing young women pursue their career goals. We are honoured to be able to be a small part of their development into the next generation of Inspirational Women.