Model school sees eight graduates

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This article was published 16/05/2016 (3555 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On May 11, eight students from the Model School took a step forward into their futures.

The school, which is a program of the University of Winnipeg Collegiate, is aimed at removing barriers for students who would not normally have a chance to attend the university preparatory school.

“Sometimes it’s financial barriers and sometimes it’s even personal barriers… the mandate is to increase access to post-secondary education for youth typically underrepresented,” school director Ian Elliott said at the graduation. “Then they can concentrate on the academics.”

The program started in 2008 as a pilot project under former U of W president Lloyd Axworthy with the support of innovative learning centre co-ordinator Kevin Chief. It has now seen a total of 51 graduates who have been able to attend on full scholarship.

“Approximately 75 per cent of the grads have or will be attending post-secondary education,” Elliot said. “I think with the numbers, it has been a success.”

 Autumn Monkman and Kyla-Alexis Bailey were two of the graduates that evening, both of whom are planning to attend the U of W next fall. Monkman will be studying in the faculty of arts with the goal of getting into education, while Bailey will be taking biology, anthropology and science in working towards a degree in forensics.

“We get more attention with not having a lot of students there, so we get that one-on-one,” Bailey said. “It’s been really great and it’s like having a second family, that’s how close we’ve gotten.”

“And they push us to succeed so they actually give us the attention and support that we need to achieve our goals,” Monkman said.

Both girls said graduating was exciting, but bittersweet.

“I’ll remember all the people I’ve met and the memories, good and bad,” Bailey said.
“Just being at the school in general is a good memory to have,” Monkman said.

Monkman is Ojibwa and the eldest of five children, with one sister in Grade 10 at the Model School. She was named the varsity girls athlete of the year and volunteers as a basketball coach for the Anishinabe Pride girls team.  She has earned $2,700 towards her tuition at U of W through the Opportunity Fund.

Bailey, originally from Bermuda, is also receiving $2,700 in earned Opportunity Fund assistance. She was awarded the Jim Henderson Sportsmanship Award for her significant contribution to athletics while maintaining high marks in her courses.