RBC announces 2014 Aboriginal Student Awards Program recipients

TORONTO, Aug. 27, 2014 /CNW/ - From Engineering to Business Administration to Nursing, over the past 22 years RBC has financially helped 138 First Nations, Inuit and Métis students across Canada attend post-secondary education. In continuing its support, RBC today announced the recipients of the 2014 RBC Aboriginal Student Awards Program. This year, 10 Aboriginal students will receive scholarships to offset the costs of post-secondary education during the academic year, including tuition, textbooks, living expenses, and school supplies.

This year's winners include a student who hopes to become a Biomedical Engineer to help bring positive change to the global public health sector and another who dreams of building an Aboriginal child care center after completing her degree in Business Administration.

"While many Aboriginal students are eager to pursue post-secondary education, some might not be able to, due to financial constraints," said Chinyere Eni, national director, Aboriginal Markets, RBC. "We strongly believe investing in education fosters strong and healthy Aboriginal communities. Our awards program helps students overcome financial barriers so they can focus on their education, no matter what they choose to study."

Since 1992, RBC has supported Indigenous students through the Aboriginal Student Awards Program. RBC will award each recipient up to $4,000 annually, for a maximum of four years, for post-secondary education. RBC also continues to invest in the Aboriginal students selected by considering those interested in careers in financial services for an opportunity to work at RBC.

2014 winners of the RBC Aboriginal Student Awards Program (in alphabetical order):

• Brittany David, Manitoba (Little Black River Nation)
  University of Winnipeg - Business Administration
  
  
• Nicholas Gault, Nova Scotia (Mi'kmaq)
  Dalhousie University - Engineering
  
  
• Keisha GoodLeaf, Québec (Mohawk)
  Concordia University - Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting
  
  
• Louis Harris, Ontario (Seneca - Six Nations)
  University of British Columbia - Bachelor of Science, Zoology

• Clarissa Hoostie, Saskatchewan (White Bear First Nation)
  University of Calgary - Bachelor of Nursing
  
  
• Sam MacLeod, Ontario (Ojibwe)
  University of Toronto - Master of Information
  
  
• Tatiana Ruiz, British Columbia (Soda Creek Indian Band - Shuswap)
  Thompson Rivers University - Business Administration
  
  
• Andre Schaub, Alberta (Ontario Métis Family Records Centre)
  University of Alberta - Engineering
  
  
• Kelsey Spence, British Columbia (Métis)
  Capilano University - Business Administration
  
  
• Robert Voudrach, Northwest Territories (Inuit of the Western Arctic)
  Aurora College - Business Administration

Applications for the 2015 RBC Aboriginal Student Awards Program will be accepted from December 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015. Eligibility criteria and more information can be found at rbc.com/careers/aboriginal_student_awards. In honour of the late Corinne Mount Pleasant-Jetté, a prominent member of the First Nations community who was instrumental in leading the launch of the RBC Aboriginal Student Awards Program, as of January 2015, one of the RBC awards will be named "The Corinne Mount Pleasant-Jetté Leadership Award". This award will be given to one of the 10 winners who demonstrates leadership skills in their community and acts as a change agent for Aboriginal communities.

About RBC and Aboriginal Canadians

RBC has a proud history of strong relationships with Aboriginal peoples. For more than 100 years, RBC has helped strengthen First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada. We are committed to serving Aboriginal governments, communities, organizations, businesses and individuals by creating opportunities for sustainable economic development through: access to banking and capital; community and social development; employment, education and training; and procurement. RBC also provides donations and grants that support Aboriginal interests in three key areas: the environment, specifically water; youth literacy and education; and culture and heritage. For additional information about these programs and more, visit rbcroyalbank.com/aboriginal and click on "A Chosen Journey Annual Report".

SOURCE RBC

Image with caption: "The 2014 RBC Aboriginal Student Award Winners (CNW Group/RBC)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140827_C8002_PHOTO_EN_42541.jpg