Two local students are being recognized through the Inter Pipeline’s Discovery Awards.
Colton Corbiere and David Dokter are former Notre Dame High School students, and are this year’s local recipients of the Inter Pipeline bursary program.
“It’s given to students that are going into industry-related post-secondary fields,” explained Notre Dame teacher and career counsellor Carol Rainey.
The program is offered to graduating students in communities where Inter Pipeline operates, who have demonstrated academic achievement, community involvement, and have a financial need.
“It’s one of those things, when they fulfill the requirements we definitely try our best to nominate. Inter Pipeline has been very generous, they’ve chosen one of our students for the last couple of years. It’s awesome for us, and for the kids,” Rainey expressed.
Industry-related fields include accounting, engineering technology, millwright, and welder, among others.
After hearing about the bursary through the staff at Notre Dame, Corbiere researched the qualifications he’d need before he went forward with his application.
His community involvement and high marks made him the perfect candidate, coupled with the fact that he would be attending the University of Alberta for accounting.
David Doktor was one of this year's recipients.
“I was extremely excited to be chosen out of our grade in Bonnyville for this bursary. It’s being put to good use paying for tuition and for my books,” he explained.
Successful applicants receive $2,000 to put towards their education.
Winning the distinction came as a shock to Corbiere.
He said, “I know there were quite a few people in our area who have similar marks and community involvement who could have used the bursary just as much as I could have.”
Corbiere has volunteered as a local soccer coach, and helps the Knights of Columbus with their food hampers program.
“This past year, I’ve taken a role in ensuring that every family not only receives a food hamper, but also receives a Christmas card that has been created by an elementary or middle school class,” he noted.
Dokter was also surprised to learn he would be a recipient of this year’s funding.
“It felt good to be recognized for my hard work,” he exclaimed.
Along with volunteering at the Bonnyville Baptist Church, Dokter has also been involved with sports.
While attending Notre Dame he received his fourth class certificate in Power Engineering, and is now attending MacEwan University for a Bachelor of Commerce. He is also working on obtaining his third class certification in Power Engineering.
The grant has helped Dokter focus mor eon his studies, by removing some of the financial burden students often face.
“It helped me pay for school. It just paid for my tuition... You have to worry less about finances, which is nice,” he noted.
The application process is completed through the high schools, with Inter Pipeline sending out application brochures and forms in early March each year the bursary has been offered. Candidates are nominated by June 1, and announced in the fall.
The funding is open to one student per school per graduating class, which Rainey believes gives the award “some prestige.”
“It definitely helps them, they can put it toward tuition and it’s prestigious in the sense that only one student per Grade 12 class is nominated. They have to fit the criteria, and only one out of however many kids that graduate are nominated. If they’re chosen, that means they’re pretty outstanding in their graduating class,” she said.
Students interested in applying for the bursary should reach out to their guidance counsellors for more information.
