Twelve recent high school graduates from across Prescott and Russell counties are this year’s Job Succession Scholarship recipients from the Employment Services Centre of Prescott-Russell. The annual scholarships are awarded to students who agree to return to practice their chosen trade or profession in Prescott-Russell after graduating from post-secondary studies. The objective is to reduce the outmigration of young people from the region and to ensure local employment vacancies are filled.
The application period for the scholarships extends from November to March each year and applicants are subjected to a rigorous selection process. Successful recipients receive $5,000 towards the cost of their postsecondary studies. However, they must sign a contract agreeing to seek employment in Prescott-Russell upon graduation. The program began in 2018 and since that time, 175 students have applied, and 58 scholarships have been awarded. Out of the 58 scholarships awarded, 29 of the students were entering health-related studies, nine were learning trades, eight were pursuing studies in commerce and administration, seven were studying sciences and engineering, two were pursuing legal studies, and three were entering arts-related programs.
“Go discover the world and come back with the best practices and new knowledge!” Employment Services Centre Executive Director Caroline Arcand told the students at the award ceremony on June 27 in Hawkesbury.
Scholarship recipients from the eastern area of Prescott-Russell include Hannah Jackl of Vankleek Hill Collegiate Institute, Mikael Constantineau of École secondaire publique Le Sommet in Hawkesbury, Simon St-Denis of École secondaire catholique régionale de Hawkesbury, Xavier Bourgeois of École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet, and Antony Simard of École secondaire catholique de Plantagenet.
Rockland District High School graduate Andrey Kraskov said Prescott-Russell feels like home to him. He will soon begin the Co-op Study Program in Engineering Technology and Computing Sciences at Algonquin College in Ottawa. His family moved to Canada six years ago from Kazakhstan. He said the scholarship is a good motivation to work near the new home he appreciates.
