Hard work earns student scholarly rewards

Moira Haggarty was honoured just to be nominated for a Thunder Bay Community Foundation scholarship, so she was more than a little surprised when she learned she was receiving two scholarships.

The 17-year-old Hammarskjold High School student received one of two $4,000 Ross A. Wilson scholarships and one of three $2,300 Helen L. Dewar scholarships.

“I have a great deal of respect for the foundation, so it is quite an honour to be receiving not only one, but two awards,” Haggarty said Thursday at the Community Foundation’s 40th anniversary scholarship luncheon at the Victoria Inn.

The scholarships aren’t just a result of the application process, but of extra time spent on academics and involvement in the community, she said.

“To me, being a part of the community is such an important part and responsibility as a youth in the community,” she said. “Being part of the community is something I do every day.”

The vice-president of her student council and a representative in the Northwestern Ontario Secondary School Student Association is also active in the Nordic skiing community and is heading to Lakehead University this fall to study psychology and join the women’s Nordic ski team.

But first she’s heading to Zambia this summer to help build a school and run a sports and leadership program.

“My new challenge is to work in the global community,” Haggarty said.

Haggarty was one of 13 students from the region to receive a scholarship and foundation trustee Bonnie Moore said the selection progress is rigorous.

With the foundation giving out scholarships for the last 21 years and high school guidance counsellors encouraging students to apply for the program, there is great competition for the awards.

“It was a tough call for those who were looking at them and trying to make the selection,” she said, adding this year they had many strong candidates.

“It just seems to get better and better,” she said, adding they’re not just strong academically but are all extremely focused.

“They all really knew what they wanted to do and they’re all really excited about going forward and going to university,” said Moore.

In addition to the Ross A. Wilson and Helen L. Dewar scholarships, three Joshua Dyke Family scholarships, five Geraldine Ruth Rogers scholarships and one John A. McLean scholarship were given to students from the city and region.