HOT 103 is pleased to announce the recipients of the 2010 Ace Burpee Scholarships presented by Mayor Sam Katz. The six recipients selected this year have demonstrated incredible accomplishments in their respective categories. Scholarships in the amount of $3000 were awarded in four categories: Arts, Community Involvement, Academics and Athletics. Two ‘wildcard’ scholarships were also awarded in the same amount.

We thank all those who submitted nominations and congratulate the following:

Breanne Baker - ARTS

Breanne is a graduate of Sisler High School. She has been an academic honor student through all her school years and was valedictorian for her grade 9 class. She has excelled in dramatic arts and theatre, playing major roles in many of Sisler’s productions over the years. Breanne is looking forward to pursuing a career in media and is starting at the Academy of Broadcasting in the fall.

Hope Akello - COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Hope graduated in June from Dakota Collegiate and is enrolled in the Civil Engineering Technology program at Red River College. Her ultimate career goal is to work in the non-profit sector, bettering the lives of people in developing countries. Hope is described as a mature, smart and confident person. She is actively involved in the community – as a long time volunteer with St. Amant Centre and also with the Boys and Girls Club. Hope has also spent her free time tutoring her peers and coaching girls’ basketball, all the while, remaining on the honour roll.

Tessa Vallittu - ACADEMICS

Tessa is a graduate of Garden City Collegiate and has consistently been an honour roll student since middle school. Teachers describe her as an extremely astute and conscientious student, noting the quality of her work was always nothing short of exceptional. Tessa has been involved in Skate Canada and figure skating since the age of ten. This year she was chosen Century Skating Club’s HomeSense Star Skate Athlete of the year as well as the City of Winnipeg’s Home Sense Star skate Athlete for 2010. Tessa participated in CancerCare Manitoba Challenge for life 2009 and initiated a commitment to provide a Christmas Cheer Board hamper on behalf of her skating club. Tessa plans on attending either the University of Manitoba or the University of Winnipeg in the fall.

Samuel Unrau - ATHLETICS

Sam has demonstrated great involvement in the areas of Athletics over the years. He is a member of the 2010 Manitoba Moose Sledge Hockey Team which captured the gold in the Western Canadian Sledge Hockey Tournament in Edmonton. Sam was also a member of Team Manitoba for the Western Canada Summer Games in the sport of Wheelchair Tennis. He is a member of the Access Advisory Committee with the City of Winnipeg and is also the Vice-Chairman for Sledge Hockey Manitoba. Sam graduated this year from Argyle Alternative High School, earning the M.A.S.T. Student Citizenship Award and the United Way Student Community Service Award. He plans to attend the University of Winnipeg in the fall. Sam recently returned from Ottawa where he submitted a private member’s bill idea to do an accessibility audit on federal modes of transportation in Parliament.

Crystal Rondeau - WILDCARD

Crystal is a Sisler High School grad. She has a neuromuscular disorder known as Muscular Dystrophy which is a progressive muscle deteriorating disease which confines her to a wheelchair and ventilator. In 2003 she was diagnosed with a form of leukemia which resulted in over two years of chemotherapy. The treatment caused her to leave school so she could focus on fighting the cancer. In September of 2005 she successfully completed her treatment and returned to school. Despite all of her challenges she maintains exceptional grades and also finds time to teach students at schools about what it’s like to live with a disability. She volunteers her time as a spokesperson for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and helps organize events for Muscular Dystrophy. In the fall Crystal is attending the University of Winnipeg to pursue her degree in psychology. She wants to become a youth counselor who specializes in helping Aboriginal and ill/disabled people.

Isse Shaiye - WILDCARD

Isse was born in Mogadishu, Somalia. At the onset of civil war in 1991 he endured many difficulties. In 2006, he spent time in a refugee camp in Kenya and toward the end of that year was given the opportunity to come to Canada. He did not speak, read or write any English. He registered in English as a Second Language courses and through hard work was accepted into the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre. Isse plans to continue his studies at the University of Winnipeg and is working towards a degree in Science. Isse is active in the community with the Manitoba Somali Association. He acts as an interpreter, helping newcomers’ access different programs and services to help them get settled in Winnipeg. Despite losing his parents, siblings and many relatives, he has managed to restart his life and is giving back to the community he says helped him.

We also wish to sincerely thank Mayor Sam Katz and the City of Winnipeg for their incredibly generous support of the Ace Burpee Scholarships.