Minister announces winner of Lester B. Pearson Scholarship

Education Minister Gerry Reid today announced the winner of this year�s Lester B. Pearson Scholarship for Newfoundland and Labrador. Aaron Critch, a Level II student from St. Kevin�s High School, Goulds, will travel to Victoria, British Columbia in the fall to begin a two-year course of study at the United World College (UWC). Aaron is the son of Lidwina and Arnold Critch.

"Each year, our selection committee has the difficult task of choosing one student from the many outstanding students who apply for this scholarship," said Minister Reid. "All of the applicants this year possessed the qualities necessary to succeed at UWC, and I am sure that any of them would have been tremendous representatives of this province at the college. Aaron Critch embodied all of the characteristics the selection committee was seeking, including a stellar academic performance and well-rounded range of extra-curricular activities, and was selected as the recipient of this year�s Lester B. Pearson Scholarship."

Mr. Critch is among 100 students selected from more than 80 countries around the world to attend UWC. Students are brought together to study and serve the community, and graduate with the world respected International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma. The IB program is a demanding, pre-university course of study designed for highly motivated secondary students. The program offers a comprehensive international curriculum, and stresses critical thinking and inter-cultural understanding.

Since 1974, the province has partnered with Lester B. Pearson College in offering one scholarship annually to a student from this province. The total value of the scholarship over the two-year period is in excess of $50,000, with contributions coming from government, the business community and private citizens.

A selection committee is established annually, with representation from the Department of Education, the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association, Memorial University, private industry and a recent Pearson graduate. After the initial screening process, several candidates are short-listed for personal interviews and a winner is then selected. A second student is named in the event the winner is unable to accept the scholarship.

"I offer my sincere congratulations to Mr. Critch," said Minister Reid. "This is a once in a lifetime educational opportunity that will expose him to an international learning environment, and will prepare him to enter university with advanced standing."

In addition to providing scholarships for students attending Pearson, government recently announced the creation of two scholarships for students outside the St. John�s area to attend the IB program offered at Holy Heart of Mary High School in St. John�s, the only school in Newfoundland and Labrador to offer the IB program.

Media contact: Elizabeth Matthews, Communications, (709) 729-0048, (709) 727-3438

2003 05 16                                       5:00 p.m.