Education
April 6, 2011

Scholarship Program Helps Adult Learners
Continue Post-secondary Education Efforts

Fifty adult learners will get help with the cost of post-secondary education in the upcoming year, thanks to the Successful Post-secondary Transition Scholarships (SPTS) program, a cost-shared initiative between the Provincial and Federal Governments, funded through the Labour Market Agreement.

The Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education, announced the recipients today (see Backgounder below).

“These individuals have made a concerted effort to upgrade their education and these scholarships, valued at $2,000 each, are designed to help them make a successful transition to post-secondary studies,” said Minister Burke. “It is also appropriate that these awards should be announced during International Adult Learners’ Week, when we are highlighting the value of continuing education and lifelong learning.”

Each of the scholarship recipients is a graduate of the Adult Basic Education program, College of the North Atlantic’s Comprehensive Arts and Science Transition program, or the General Educational Development test. They must also be enrolled in their first-year of a full-time program of studies in a public or private post-secondary institution in a program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate.

Minister Burke noted that in addition to the scholarships, these students are also benefitting from tuition costs that are among the lowest in the country. Some may be eligible for upfront, needs-based grants, and none will pay interest on the provincial portion of their student loan.

“Our investments in post-secondary education have increased more than 92 per cent in the past seven years, and adult learners are among those reaping the benefits,” said Minister Burke. “From one of the best student aid packages in the country, to relevant, industry-driven programming, we are providing the means by which all post-secondary students can further their studies and participate more fully in our growing economy.”

Information on the Successful Post-secondary Transition Scholarships program is available at www.gov.nl.ca/edu/postsecondary/scholarship_sts.html, or by calling the Division of Adult Learning and Literacy, Department of Education, at 709-729-6860.

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Media contact:
Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca 

BACKGROUNDER
Successful Post-secondary Transition Scholarship (SPTS) Recipients

Avalon
Josi Surch, Medical Sciences
Tina Anthony, Office Administration
Dana Clarke, Occupational Health and Safety
Elisha Gosse, Dental Assisting
Eileen Gregory, Business Management
Imelda Hayes, Dental Assisting
Kelly Pearce, Plumbing
Allison Street, Business Management/Human Resource Management
Sherry Wheaton, Office Administration
Kendra Knee, Nursing
Sarah Kean, Pre-Social Work

Eastern
Sherry Legge, Community Studies
Connie Lockyer, Occupational Health and Safety
Lacey Pottle, Business Management/Human Resource Management
Brenda Milley, Personal Care Attendant
Andy Butler, Sheet Metal Worker
D. Rodney Mifflin, Civil Engineering Technology
Steven Hull, Construction/Industrial Electrical
Karen Lambert, Office Administration
David Noftall, Carpentry
Rita Piercey, Business Management
Donna Stacey, Business Management
Edward Clarke, First Year Engineering Technology
Brenda Bungay, Practical Nursing
Vicky Murcell, Practical Nursing
Jody Brenton, Occupational Health and Safety
Matthew Cooper, Occupational Health and Safety
Clarissa Gillingham, Child and Youth Care Worker
Allan Nippard, Child and Youth Care Worker
Ruth Poole, Personal Care Attendant
Roxanne Totaro, Office Administration
Melanie Decker, Bachelor of Physical Education

Western
Tina Cassell, Fish and Wildlife Technician
Nicole Glover, Fish and Wildlife Technician
Kaylie Lavers, Bachelor of Nursing (Collaborative)
Shannon MacKinnon, Practical Nursing
Tracey Tatchell, Practical Nursing
Gail Anderson, Occupational Health and Safety
Corey Burry, Occupational Health and Safety
Debra Fillatre, Student Assistant
Brenda O’Quinn, Personal Care Attendant
Carol Hopkins, Journalism
Irene Bird, Business Administration
Pamela Connolly, Practical Nursing

Labrador
Tuttu Hunter, Community Studies
Roslyn Hunter, Northern Natural Resources Technician
Sara Matthews, Electrical Engineering Technology
Corinna Russell, Community Studies
Bradley White, First Year Engineering Technology
Margaret Edmunds, Office Administration

2011 04 06                                               11:05 a.m.