The First Recipients of CMTN's Northern Learner Entrance Awards Start Classes

L to R: Yvonne Koerner (Executive Director, CMTN Foundation), JP Gill, Ethan Robinson, Genevieve Lehnert, Katie Williams, Dylan Burke, Renee Jordan (CMTN Foundation Coordinator), and Dr. Laurie Waye (CMTN President and CEO).

Northwest BC— The CMTN Foundation and Coast Mountain College (CMTN) are pleased to announce the first seven recipients of the Northern Learner Entrance Award. This is a new incentive for top high school graduates to pursue their first year of post-secondary education locally.

This year’s recipients of the Northern Learner Entrance Award are:

• Dylan Burke from Bear Valley School, studying Heavy Mechanical Foundations
• JP Gill from Caledonia Senior Secondary School, studying University Sciences
• Rufus McDames from Na Aksa Gyilak'yoo School, studying First Nations Fine Arts
• Kevan Du from Hazelton Secondary School, studying Professional Cook Level 1
• Ethan Robinson from Kitimat City High School, studying Professional Cook Level 1
• Genevieve Lehnert from Charles Hays Secondary School, studying Criminology
• Katie Williams from Bulkley Valley Christian School, studying Hairstylist Foundations

The award for each of this year’s seven recipients includes up to $3,500 toward tuition and fees, as well as a $600 monthly housing supplement for up to eight months, depending on the length of their program. The recipients can use the housing supplement either towards a room in Wii Gyemsiga Siwilaawksat (the student housing building on the Terrace campus) or to supplement their living costs off-campus. The total maximum value is $8,300 per award.

Up to 23 awards were available – one for every high school in the region—from Haida Gwaii to Houston, BC—as well as one for a student who completed their Dogwood Diploma through distributed learning in the northwest. Each high school was asked to nominate an outstanding student who wished to pursue a program at CMTN of at least 28 weeks.

“We are delighted to be able to fund these large awards for local students,” says Dr. Laurie Waye, CMTN President and CEO. “We hope to encourage learners to stay close to home while they further their education. This award means these talented students will be learning close to home which will support their success and benefit our communities.”

The next round of award selection will take place this fall, with regional high schools putting forward their nominations. 

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Media Contacts:

Heather Bastin
Executive Director, External Relations
hbastin@coastmountaincollege.ca
Tel: 250-635-6511 Ext 5494 | Mobile: 250-615-3855

Yvonne Koerner
Executive Director, CMTN Foundation
ykoerner@coastmountaincollege.ca 
Tel: 250 635 6511 Ext. 5416