Students receive Literacy Nova Scotia awards
Two adult students from Yarmouth County are among the recipients of the Literacy Nova Scotia’s 2018-19 Scholarship and Bursary Awards.
Marcel Southern, of Brenton, Yarmouth County is the recipient of one of the two Literacy Nova Scotia Scholarship Awards, receiving $1,500 to help further his education and career. Southern is attending the Shelburne Campus of NSCC.
“I have finally found the courage for going back to school,” he said in a media release.
“I completed my high school and I am looking forward to the electrical construction course that I am enrolled in at Shelburne NSCC. My plan is to get through this year and look forward, not backward, from where I left off with my old career,” he added. “I’m going to focus on getting my four blocks as an apprentice. My goal is to be a contractor and work for myself like I used to and provide the quality work that the consumer deserves.”
A former instructor at the Yarmouth County Learning Network described Southern as very motivated, saying he impressed the network with his attention to detail, intelligence and ability to work through abstract concepts and make connections. He was described as an eager learner who is willing to do the work to succeed and who also sets realistic goals for himself and sees them through to the end.
Also receiving a $1,500 scholarship was Michael Clyke of the NSCC Truro campus.
Literacy Nova Scotia also awards three $500 bursary awards, with Yarmouth Community Learning Network student Ashley CogginsComeau one of the winners.
After she graduates with her GED, Coggins-Comeau plans to continue her schooling until she can work with children in group homes. “Being a child of the system as well, I have the passion, empathy, and knowledge to give to these people and to help them succeed.”
She is grateful for the financial assistance through the bursary.
“I am in a low-income situation, so the cost of childcare and transportation is a factor that causes me to worry that I won’t be able to afford to stay in school,” she said. “One of my biggest reasons for going back to school is my children, to set an example that it may be hard, but can be done. I’m also doing this for myself, to show my inner self that I can do it.”
Todd Colbourne (Pictou County Continuous Learning Association) and Cathy Spike (Dartmouth Learning Network) were the other two bursary award recipients.
“Literacy can reduce the inequalities caused by poverty. These individuals are putting in the effort to change their lives. If we can eliminate or reduce a financial challenge, it gives learners a step up to hurdle the other barriers they may face. It’s such a small thing that has huge impact,” says LNS executive director Jayne Hunter.
“Our scholarship and bursary recipients are proof of the positive changes that happen when adults return to learning and improve their literacy and essential skills. They are more likely to be selfreliant and to contribute to their communities. They are better able to maintain their health, financial responsibilities, and civic engagement,” states the press release, adding statistics show 50 per cent of Nova Scotians could improve their lives by improving their literacy skills.
Money raised through the Nova Scotia Peter Gzowski Invitational Golf Tournament (NSPGI) for Literacy is used by Literacy Nova Scotia to fund scholarships and bursaries to learners who are in adult learning programs or have completed a program and are continuing on to post-secondary education. The annual event has raised more than $1.5 million to support literacy initiatives across the province.
“This is a transition year for us,” said Hunter. “We cancelled our golf tournament in June and are going with a Learner Celebration,” which was being held Nov. 19 in Wolfville.
NSPGI 2019 will be held on April 30 in Halifax.