UOIT students earn national Excellence Awards

Five UOIT students have earned Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation awards for their outstanding leadership and success in the classroom and community.

The Millennium Excellence Award Program recognizes the student leaders of today and tomorrow and emphasizes the importance of supporting their contributions to Canada's future.

"What a proud time this is for UOIT. To have five of our students honoured with these prestigious scholarships is so very reflective of the outstanding academic and community leaders here on our campus," said Margaret Greenley, vice-president of Student Affairs at UOIT. "All of our scholarship recipients deserve congratulations for their commitment to their studies, their communities and for displaying leadership on a regular basis."

The students gathered together November 9 in the Community Room, shared their experiences and received congratulations from UOIT President Dr. Ron Bordessa.

Dr. Bordessa was impressed by how modest the recipients were about their accomplishments, adding that they had achieved academic excellence while still finding time to be good citizens.

Four students received in-course awards, which honour good citizenship and demonstrated community service, academic achievement, leadership, and an interest in innovation. Among the extensive community service being carried out by the students is aid for homeless individuals and work in the equestrian field.

Samveg Saxena, a fourth-year Manufacturing Engineering student at UOIT, is president and founder of the UOIT/Durham College Solar Vehicle Team that is building an entry and raising money to compete at a solar challenge in 2007.

Saxena received the second instalment of his two-year renewable in-course award, which is valued at $4,000 annually, after receiving the first portion in 2005. A student must maintain a B-plus GPA and continue to show leadership, innovation and service to the community to qualify for the second year of funding.

"As a recipient of a renewable Excellence Award last year, I am ecstatic to see the increased number of students at UOIT receiving the Millennium Award this year," said Saxena. "The fact that we have so many more award recipients this year is a testament to the spirit of innovation among my student colleagues on campus. Congratulations to all of this year's recipients and I hope that students on campus continue to make a difference like this year's award winners."

Also earning an in-course renewable award was Holly Pelvin, a third-year Criminology and Justice student. She received the first part of her two-year award valued at $4,000 annually.

In addition, UOIT students Mehrdad Afroozpanah, third-year Radiation Science, and Lindsey Forkun, third-year Nursing, both received a one-time scholarship valued at $4,000. University students are required to complete two years of studies before applying for in-course scholarships.

Jessica O'Brien, in first-year Health Science studies at UOIT, earned a one-time Entrance Scholarship valued at $4,000. These scholarships are given to students beginning their first year of full-time undergraduate studies leading to a degree, diploma or certificate.

Since 2000, the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation has delivered more than 500,000 bursaries and scholarships worth more than $1.5 billion to students across Canada.

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