From left to right: CMTN Foundation Executive Director Yvonne Koerner with Rising Star recipients Stephanie Hill, Abidemi Osirinjolu, Marjorie Tusason, and Harold Calderon.

 

Prince Rupert, BC – The 2024 Prince Rupert Chamber of Commerce Business Excellence Awards, held after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, created a perfect platform for the CMTN Foundation to honour the achievements of five exceptional Coast Mountain College (CMTN) students with their award donors. The Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce Rising Star Award, the Prince Rupert Port Authority (PRPA) Academic Excellence Award, and the Made in the North – Northern Savings Credit Union (NSCU) Award were handed out recognizing the students’ academic excellence and contributions to the sustainable development of Northwest communities.

The Chamber of Commerce and the CMTN Foundation partnered to fund the Rising Stars Award, which was presented to Abidemi Osirinjolu, Marjorie Tusason, Harold Calderon, and Stephanie Hill. All four Rising Star students have been matched with Prince Rupert and District Chamber of Commerce members who have mentored them, introducing them to the local business world. 

 

From left to right: Vice President of Public Affairs and Sustainability, Prince Rupert Port Authority, Ken Veldman, Rising Star, Stephanie Hill, CMTN Foundation Executive Director, Yvonne Koerner and CMTN Events and Administrative Coordinator, Renee Jordan.

 

It was a special day for Rising Star student Stephanie Hill, who was a double awardee. She was the first recipient of the newly created Prince Rupert Port Authority Academic Excellence Award. When asked how she felt after receiving the awards, Stephanie said, “It’s a major accomplishment for myself. As an Indigenous person, and you know not always having the greatest home life, and our people… the challenges we faced. Doing this is amazing. I hope it sets a really good example for other people and Indigenous people that you can do it no matter what. You can get there as long as you’re dedicated.”

From left to right: Branch Manager, Northern Savings Credit Union, Michelle Boomars-MacNeill, Made in the North recipient, Urmi Bariya, CMTN Foundation Executive Director, Yvonne Koerner and CMTN Events and Administrative Coordinator, Renee Jordan.

 

CMTN Foundation also celebrated Urmi Bariya, who received the Northern Savings Credit Union – Made in the North Award under the Associate of Science, Environmental Geosciences Specialization category. The award recognises students in their academic pursuits in the areas of Community, Financial Literacy, Leadership, and Environment.

The CMTN Foundation remains steadfast in its desire to remove financial barriers and ensure each student from the region has access to resources to make CMTN a part of their post-secondary learning pathway.

 

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