Northern stars shining bright

Thank you to everyone who applied to our Northern Futures Scholarship Program. We are so excited to announce our 2022 winners! Join us in celebrating these northern students for their hard work, dedication and future promise.  

This year we gave seven $4000 scholarships to students from communities across the North. Along with this financial support, we offer summer employment opportunities and the chance to work with our team upon graduation.  

Congratulations to all of this year’s Northern Futures Scholarship winners. We look forward to seeing your bright futures unfold.!

Vinider Dhillon

Whitehorse, Yukon

My name is Viny Dhillon. Studying at the University of Calgary, I am currently enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce with a Finance specialization, along with a minor in Computer Science. 

I am proud to call the Yukon my home, having been born and raised in Whitehorse. My grandfather immigrated from India to the Yukon in 1969. I am always astonished at the fact that he decided to make such a huge change in his life, to move halfway across the world to a place so different from his own home. Yet he tells me, time and time again, “Sometimes the biggest risks you make will lead you to the best outcomes.” If it were not for his risk, I would never have had the opportunity to grow up in such a wonderful place. 

I hope to be the change to make this a goal of all organizations in the future. I believe the North would be one of the best places to try to integrate these goals, while making the area a future hub of innovation. 

Finance is a career path that I believe I can use to cultivate my passions of sustainability, efficiency and cutting-edge software solutions. 

Hansika Jhankur

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

My name is Hansika Jhankur, and I’m a hardworking individual committed to pursuing a career in business. By obtaining my degree, I will have the necessary knowledge and tools to create new ventures. I have lived in Yellowknife for nineteen great years. Growing up in this community has exposed me to many local businesses thriving in the North, which was my initial inspiration to apply to Aurora College to attain an entrepreneurial education. My ambition is to become an entrepreneur because it allows me "to take a calculated risk on a passion” (Francesco Clark). I'm passionate about the business field because the possibilities for new ideas and creations are endless. The business world is dynamic, meaning it's constantly evolving and changing, which challenges me and allows me to develop and adapt to those changes. 

I am passionate about pursuing a career in the business field because the possibilities for new ideas and creations are endless. 

Max Dragon

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

My name is Max Dragon, and I am studying Commerce at UBC. I have always had an interest in business and entrepreneurship. I especially enjoy applying my entrepreneurial spirit to things I am passionate about or issues that are important to me. I chose to pursue a degree in Finance to gain knowledge within the business world and be able to make an impact in my community once I join the workforce. I’m passionate about this field because I believe it will allow me to have the greatest impact on issues that are significant to me and my family. An important issue in Canada, where I believe I can contribute, is in advancing the economic development and self-sufficiency of Aboriginal people. 

As a member of Smith’s Landing First Nation, I hope to one day use my education to help Aboriginal people pursue their own entrepreneurial dreams and take on new business opportunities. With any new business, it is challenging to find the necessary resources to set up and grow. With a business degree, I hope to be able to give back by utilizing my knowledge to help entrepreneurs start and then grow their businesses. I would love to be able to feed the entrepreneurial fire that many people have and help them reach their dreams. 

I have always been a self-starter and I think I would enjoy helping entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses, potentially in the North. I am very grateful to Northwestel for giving me this opportunity and for supporting me in pursuing my goals. 

Janelle Pierrot

Norman Wells, Northwest Territories

My name is Janelle Pierrot and I am from Fort Good Hope, Northwest Territories in the Sahtu Region. I come from two big families who are very traditional in our ways of life. I was brought up to live off the land and to respect all animals. My family consists of the Pierrots and Manuels who mostly reside in Fort Good Hope. I have both my parents, two siblings, one nephew and one niece. 

I have chosen the business field as my goal so I can lead and manage an Indigenous organization in my region. Many of our organizations are still managed by outsiders as we lack higher education in the isolated communities. One of the main benefits that I experienced when working for the self-government office in Fort Good Hope was that my position gave me the opportunity to listen to the people of the community and collaborate and implement ways to better our agreement with the federal government. I found it to be very rewarding to serve my community. This experience made me want to be a leader one day and showed me that I needed to get back to school to broaden my knowledge. I enjoy gaining knowledge and putting myself to the test. Business and numbers have always been my thing throughout my life, and I know I can be an excellent leader and manager. 

I am studying business to achieve my goal of holding a leadership position with an Indigenous government in my home community or region, and contributing to the advancement of self-government for my people. 

Scott Harman

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories

My name is Scott Harman, and I am a northerner, born and raised in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. I am a proud descendent of the North Slave Métis of the Great Slave Lake region. I have fond memories of being raised and living in the North. I experienced the richness of hunting moose, trapping, fishing trout and camping year-round with my family. It is a great privilege to be entering the final year of my undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering at UBC Okanagan. 

Upon completion, I plan to aid in the ongoing environmental, land protection and infrastructure endeavours across the Northwest Territories. As an Indigenous person, my goal is to focus on enriching our Indigenous communities through economic opportunities and improving the quality of life for all. 

I hope to give back to the North, and [pursue] opportunities that would allow me to help improve the quality of life [for] people in the North, as well as promote environmental sustainability.  

Tasha-Lee Schwantz

Whitehorse, Yukon

My name is Tasha-Lee Schwantz. I am Ojibwe First Nations from Northern Ontario, but moved to the Yukon when I was very young. I live in Whitehorse, Yukon, and I am currently attending Yukon University (YukonU), obtaining an undergraduate degree in Business Administration. This summer I worked for Northwestel as an HR Generalist summer student. Some of my passions include community development, Indigenous representation, and connecting with people. This is what led me to Human Resources. 

Growing up in the Yukon has provided endless opportunities including education, sports, and networking. I believe that Northern Canada is the land of opportunity and innovation, with Northwestel being at the forefront of community and telecommunication innovation. Northwestel’s vision and mission are inspiring, and I have found the working environment to be incredibly encouraging. Specifically, Northwestel’s vision of northern Canadians thriving in a highly connected North resonates with me because connection results in opportunity and innovation. This scholarship will allow me to reduce my current hours of work during the school year, enabling me to focus on my educational development while continuing to modernize business solutions in the North.  

Living in the North has provided so many opportunities. Continuing to strive for a connected north will result in constant growth and innovation. I am excited to be staying with Northwestel over the school year! 

Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark

Rankin Inlet, Nunavut

My name is Qaritaq Kusugak-Clark. I am named after my great-grandfather, Mr. Johnny Karetak. I am an Inuk from Rankin Inlet, Nunavut and I take great pride in being an Inuk. Our way of life is like no other. Our culture is innovative and resourceful. My culture has taught me to hunt, fish, camp and support my family, to take part in on-the-land activities and our cultural practices. My upbringing was supported by my parents, extended family members and my community. They have all contributed and helped shape me into the person I am today. 

My family has taught me the importance of education including both the formalized version and our Inuit cultural teachings. The life lesson they shared with me is that with education comes options and opportunities. While growing up in Rankin, I was fortunate to receive a lot of support to do well in life. It is now my responsibility to support the next group of children and youth. When I am home, I take the time to coach sports, model healthy lifestyle choices and promote fitness. I work hard to provide opportunities that were once provided to me. Supporting youth is important to maintain growth, health and wellness of our community. 

My family has taught me the importance of education including both the formalized version and our Inuit cultural teachings. The life lesson they shared with me is that with education comes options and opportunities.  

Northern Futures Scholarship Program 2023  

If you are a post-secondary student from Canada’s North, apply to our 2023 scholarship program. Applications for next year will open in May. Our goal is to award at least half of the six scholarships to Indigenous students. 

Learn more here.