Opportunity knocks

Transcona

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This article was published 05/06/2023 (1017 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

One Murdoch MacKay Collegiate grad has the community behind him as he chases his dreams.

Cody McDonald, 17, is one of this year’s Schulich Leader Scholarship winners. The $100,000 will allow the lifelong Transcona resident to pursue a degree in actuarial mathematics at the University of Manitoba.

“It’s really a big weight lifted off our shoulders, to not have to worry about paying for university,” McDonald said. “I’m the first boy from our family to have the opportunity to go to university. Being able to do it with this award means I’ll be able to take whatever courses I want and just enjoy the experience and learn as much as I can while I’m there.”

“I am glad to have taught Cody. He is one of those students you hear positive things about across the school community and you hope you will have in your class one day,” said David Savoie, advanced placement calculus and physics teacher at Murdoch MacKay. “He has not disappointed me. He has excelled in the advanced placement program and in so many activities, not just because of his hard work and great attitude, but also because he finds joy in working with others and learning new things. Cody is a lifelong learner.”

McDonald, who also attended Wayoata School and Arthur Day Middle School in Transcona, hopes to combine his love for math and science with a passion for preserving Indigenous languages.

“I want to hopefully one day try to weave that all together, and create something new,” he said.

“Cody is an exceptional, well-rounded individual who is also friendly, caring, appreciative, and easy-going with all individuals in our school,” said school counsellor Jordon Yvon-Moreau. “He has contributed so much to this school community and to the community at large. Cody’s work in Reconciliation and in learning and practising new languages has been a source of inspiration to me and many staff and students.”

In 2021, McDonald launched Mishkum Clothing and Designs, a company that not only provides opportunities to learn Indigenous languages, but also features them prominently in its merchandise. He said he was inspired by his grandfather.

“My grandfather spoke Michif, and today there’s only, like, 2,000 people who speak it,” McDonald said. “Within the next few years, there won’t be anyone left unless we try to preserve it.”

“He has a very bright future ahead of him.

“Cody’s kindness, entrepreneurial spirit, and intelligence overflow in equal measure to make him one of the most successful and promising graduates at Murdoch MacKay,” Vanessa Harms, AP chemistry teacher, added “He has a very bright future ahead of him.”

McDonald is one of three Schulich Leaders from the River East Transcona School Division this year, along with Simar Singh Ubhi (Kildonan-East Collegiate) and Maxwell Nganyadi (Miles Macdonell Collegiate).