Southwest students receive youth apprenticeship scholarships
Five students from the Southwest were among the 80 high school graduates province wide who earned $1,000 Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Industry Scholarships.
Scholarships were presented to the following students:
Colton Lane Moquin, Eastend School, Agricultural Machinery Technician;
Dustin William John Cooke, Gull Lake High School, Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) – Yara Belle Plaine Inc. Scholarship;
Dillon Spencer Mathieu, Herbert School, Carpenter – Saskatchewan Construction Association Scholarship;
Damian Terry Douglas Kingdon, Maverick School, Electrician – Yara Belle Plaine Inc. Scholarship;
James Roland Woelk, Swift Current Comprehensive High School – Welder/Motor Vehicle Body Repairer – PCL Construction Management Inc. Scholarship.
“The scholarships provide financial incentives as well as the opportunity for students to learn more about the skilled trades,” SATCC Board Chair Garry Kot said. “They also demonstrate the collaboration between industry and the Government of Saskatchewan in supporting our youth and meeting Saskatchewan’s labour market needs.”
The scholarships were initiated in 2009-10 by industry partners and the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC). To date, 39 industry partners, including business owners, labour organizations, and two provincial government agencies have contributed $951,000 to the scholarship fund.
The Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission selects the schools that receive the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Industry Scholarship and the school selects the scholarship winner. To qualify for the scholarship, the graduate must complete high school and the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship program, as well as complete one level of apprenticeship or one year of post-secondary training in a designated skilled trade.
Currently, 278 schools are registered in the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Program, with over 3,700 students participating. Since the SYA Program’s inception in 2006-07, over 13,000 students in grades 1012 have registered and over 4,200 have completed the program and received certificates. Of this total, 624 have registered as Saskatchewan apprentices. To date, 86 Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship participants have achieved journeyperson status.