2024 Student Bursary Recipients Presentation

Ashlyn Bourassa

Ashlyn will be attending Northwestern Polytechnic in Fairview, to pursue her first year of a two-year course, in Animal Health Technology, with the hopes of becoming a Veterinary Technologist in Northern Alberta upon graduation. 

Levi Boychuk with Ward 7 Councillor, Don Hoffart

Levi Boychuk

Levi was present at Council to receive his award from his Ward Councillor, Don Hoffart. Levi is a previous bursary recipient and is continuing his studies at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie, entering his second year of his Bachelor of Commerce degree. He hopes to one day become an accountant, offering his services to Peace Region residents and producers. 

Georgia Chipps

Georgia is a previous Saddle Hills County Bursary recipient and is now entering her third year of post-secondary education, studying for a Bachelor of Nursing at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie. Upon degree completion, she hopes to continue her education and gain a second qualification in midwifery.

Aron Derksen

Aron is a prior recipient of the Saddle Hills County Student Bursary and is now entering the second year of his post-secondary education, studying Computer Engineering at the University of Alberta in Edmonton. This field is intended to bridge the gaps between electrical hardware and software which is essential in development of control and automation systems.  He would like to apply this knowledge to agricultural technology to aid farmers, with an interest specifically in auto guidance and equipment monitoring.

Jessie Derksen

Jessie is a previous recipient of the Saddle Hills County student bursary and is now entering his fourth year of post-secondary education, studying Mechnical Engineering at the University of Alberta. Currently, his is looking to use his degree to move into the world of electrification, be it automotive, offroad, materials transport, or even applications in agricultural technologies.

Maria Derksen

Maria will be attending the University of Alberta, in Edmonton, to begin the first year of a Bachelors of Science program, majoring in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. She hopes to use her education to advance the field of agriculture and increase the environmental sustainability of the industry, and plans to work in her home of Saddle Hills County after completion of her degree.

Rory DeSmet with Ward 4 Councillor, Ed Armagost

Rory DeSmet

Rory was present at Council to receive his award from his Ward Councillor, Ed Armagost. He will be entering his first year of post-secondary education at the University of Lethbridge, studying combined degrees in General Science and Education, majoring in Math, Physics, and Psychology. Upon completion of his degree, he hopes to pursue a career in education in a small, rural school setting. 

Paige Dolen with Ward 4 Councillor, Ed Armagost

Paige Dolen

Paige was present at Council to receive her award from her ward Councillor, Ed Armagost. Paige is entering her first year at Northern Lake College, studying for a Primary Care Paramedic Certificate. The program is mixed delivery, meaning she will be able to complete the course with a mixture of in-person time and remote work. Upon completion of the program, she hopes to transfer to the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology, in Edmonton, to complete the Advanced Care Paramedic Program. She hopes to one day work for the STARS Air Ambulance Service and, in the meantime, plans to continue to live and work in Northern Alberta. 

Sierra Evans and Ward 2 Councillor/Reeve, Alvin Hubert

Sierra Evans

Sierra was present at Council to receive her award from her Ward Councillor, and Saddle Hills County Reeve, Alvin Hubert. Sierra is a previous bursary recipient and is entering her fourth year of post-secondary education, studying for her Bachelors of Education through an online course at the University of Calgary, specializing in Early Elementary to K-3. The course allows students to complete their degree online with the exception of a two week course every July. This is the final year of her degree before she becomes a qualified teacher. By remaining in the community to complete her degree she has been able to undertake her practicums and work as a casual Classroom Supervisor at the Bonanza School, where she hopes to teach upon graduation. 

Addison Hubert

Addison is entering her second year of a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing, at Grant MacEwan University, in Edmonton. After obtaining her degree she aspires to work as a Registered Nurse (RN) in a clinical setting, with an ultimate goal of specializing in emergency room or critical care and working in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU). She plans to further her education by pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing or a Doctorate of Medicine, focusing on healthcare roles, such as a Nurse Practitioner or General Practitioner. Upon completion of her studies, she plans to return to the Peace Region to provide much needed rural healthcare services to the community. 

Lauren Konashuk with Ward 2 Councillor/Reeve, Alvin Hubert

Lauren Konashuk

Lauren was present at Council to receive her award from her Ward Councillor, and Saddle Hills County Reeve, Alvin Hubert. Lauren is a previous bursary recipient and is entering her fourth year of post-secondary education, studying for a Bachelor of Science, specializing in Immunology and Infection at the University of Alberta. She continues to study for the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) and plans to write the exam this August, applying programs in Edmonton, Calgary, and Grande Prairie. After medical school, she hopes to complete residency and eventually practice in the Peace Country.

Roy McRann

Roy is a prior Saddle Hills County Bursary recipient and will be entering his second year of post-secondary education at Northwestern Polytechnic, in Grande Prairie, studying for a Bachelor of Business Administration Degree in Accounting. Upon completion of his education, he hopes to become a chartered professional accountant and return to Saddle Hills County.

L-R: Evan Pulllishy, Arika Pullishy, Joshua Moxness, and Dane Singer

Joshua Moxness

Joshua is currently employed as a Seasonal Weed Inspector with Saddle Hills County. He will be entering his second year of post-secondary education, studying for a Bachelor of Commerce at Northwestern Polytechnic, in Grande Prairie. After two years, students enrolled in the program are required to transfer to the University of Alberta, to complete their studies. He aims to finish his degree majoring in something closely related to business economics and management and, with this, hopes to become a successful business owner or operator in the Peace Region. 

Arika Pullishy

Arika is a previous recipient of the Saddle Hills County Student Bursary and is currently employed as a Seasonal Weed Inspector at the County. She will be entering her second year at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie, studying for a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Upon completion of her degree she hopes to work at the Grande Prairie Hospital in one of the following fields: ER, surgical nurse, or as a nurse practitioner.

Evan Pullishy

Evan is a previous recipient of the Saddle Hills County Student Bursary and is currently employed as a Seasonal Weed Inspector at the County. Evan is entering his fifth year at the University of Alberta studying for his BSc in Biological Sciences and Nutrition. He transferred to the UoA after completing the first two years of his post-secondary education at Northwestern Polytechnic in Grande Prairie. Upon completion of his degree, he plans to apply to either medical or graduate school to train to become a healthcare professional, working as either a General Practitioner or Sports Medicine Therapist in the Peace Region

Dane Singer

Dane is a previous recipient of the Saddle Hills County Student Bursary and is currently employed as a Seasonal Weed Inspector at the County. Dane will be entering his second year at Lethbridge College studying for his Natural Resource Compliance Diploma. He aims to become an Alberta Fish and Wildlife Officer upon completion of his education.

Chloe Richard

Chloe is a previous bursary recipient and will be attending her third year of post-secondary education at Vancouver Island University, to study for a BA in Criminology. She is interested in pursuing a career in law post-graduation, enabling her to support people with complex issues on a more personal level.