From left to right, Jane Kramer, Scholarship Chair, Canadian Federation of University Women Southport; Saugeen District Secondary School graduates, Madison Masterson, Jessie Nusselder, Lauren Kerker; missing was Saugeen District Secondary School graduate, Emily Kewageshig and Mature recipient, Eryn Stuart.

Hub Staff

The Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Southport held their annual Year in Review dinner at Saugeen Golf Club, June 9.

Included in the evening were the group’s scholarship recipients from Saugeen District Secondary School’s 2015 graduating year as well as two mature student recipients.

Jane Kramer, Scholarship Chairman with CFUW Southport, said that the scholarships go to the top female scholars going onto university or college. “Really we find that all around top student,” said Kramer, who added that SDSS staff selects the recipients. “It’s kind of nice because... how could we choose,” said Kramer.

In addition to four graduating female student recipients, the group, beginning last year, created a scholarship fund for returning mature women. CFUW Southport member, Luz Maria Alvarez made the suggestion and it was agreed upon, not only in honour of the group's 25th anniversary but scholarship funds were raised in recognition of Alvarez’s 800 kilometre Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.

Related: Boots, wine and triumph: Tales of a Camino Pilgrimage

Ruth Knox, CFUW Southport member said, “It takes guts to go back to school as an adult, it really takes a strength of character.”

The group works with a continuing education program out of Kincardine and potential recipients apply for the scholarship by writing a letter telling their story and explaining why they should be chosen.

Alvarez said applications were starting to come in for the next year. “It is so moving to read the letters of the applicants,” she said.

Kramer said the group was surprised they had two applicants last year but they had the funds so granted both of the applicants with a scholarship.

Nadine Dobson was one of the recipients and was in attendance at the June 9 event. “I was at the Adult Learning Centre, I was trying to get my GED (General Education Development),” said Dobson, adding that her teacher at the Centre told her about the scholarship and encouraged her to apply.

Dobson had a child at the age of 15 so left school to raise her. “I only got my grade 11... I was 22 when I decided that I wanted to go back to school,” said Dobson, who added that it was the fact that her daughter spent the first year and a half of her life in hospital and seeing how everyone cared for her inspired her in her chosen career path. She took the Personal Support Worker course, a one year program at Fanshawe College. She finished about two months ago and now has a position with Care Partners.

“[The work is] out in the community, it’s with seniors, people with disabilities, kids with disability problems, new moms sometimes too,” said Dobson. She added that she is extremely happy she made the choice to go back to school. “I’ve been working for a month now, I love it... it’s good to be able to be there for someone and to listen to them, it’s good to help them.”

Jessie Nusselder is in her first year at Laurentian University in Sudbury, studying Kinesiology. “It’s the study of human movement,” said Nusselder, who added that the CFUW scholarship helped toward her tuition as well as books. “Everything is surprisingly expensive when you’re on your own.”

Nusselder, whose school is a five hour drive from home, said she was excited when she first arrived but then the isolation and the reality of living on one’s own set in. “I didn’t end up going with anyone I knew... so just going there and not knowing anyone and you’re there by yourself,” Nusselder said, but because many students at Laurentian are in the same situation, “you don’t think about that but it’s true for everyone, so that helps.”

She continued. “I made so many friends this year, I met so many cool classmates and coaches and everyone is great.”

Following four years of Kinesiology, Nusselder plans on going to med school, which is another four years, followed by four year internship and four year residency. “I love being a student,” said Nusselder.

Eventually she would like to settle back in the area, “Southampton or Owen Sound,” but also recognizes the need for doctors up north. “I want to go to a Northern Ontario med school; they kind of look for doctors hoping they’d stay up north, so I might stay there for two years or so and then I think I’ll end up coming back here,” she said.

Lauren Kerker, who is at Laurier University in Waterloo, Bachelor of Business Administration, said she’s really enjoying it and the CFUW scholarship helped pay for text books. “It was very helpful in the first year,” said Kerker.

The Business Administration program is a four year program, “then there’s a co-op option as well that I’m going to apply for,” said Kerker. “It’s competitive to get in.”

Kerker added that she’s loving the busy atmosphere right now and thinks she’d like to stay in the city for a couple of years once her schooling is complete. “I’m looking into entrepreneurship in sustainability and I’m also looking at branding, like communicating brands to consumers,” she said, adding that she found that course very interesting.

Madison Masterson, who is studying to be a Dental Hygienist at Georgian College in Barrie, said her course is a three year course “but we do 12 months at once and then I have a semester off and then another 12 months.” Masterson added, “I’ll be officially graduated December 2017.”

Masterson said she would like to try and come home when she is finished, but isn’t sure there will be many job opportunities here so added that she might end up in Milton with her sister.