Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development
May 26, 2016
The following is being distributed at the request of the Research & Development Corporation:
Investing in the Next Generation of R&D Leaders
RDC Awards Students with Research Inspired Enrichment Opportunities
Fifteen Newfoundland and Labrador high school students will spend this summer at research-related enrichment programs across North America and the Arctic through the Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards announced last night by the Research & Development Corporation (RDC). The awards range in value from $6,500 to $15,000 and are presented to students who demonstrate academic excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
“The Research Inspired Student Enrichment Awards enable the province’s top performing high school students to gain knowledge and appreciation that will inspire the pursuit of research-related careers. By exposing our youth to research-related experiences, we are cultivating a new generation of R&D leaders, building a culture of innovation, and in turn, investing in the future of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
- The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development and Minister Responsible for RDC
RISE Award winners will attend one of three enrichment programs: the Research Science Institute based at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program at the University of Toronto; or Students on Ice, which takes students and researchers on a ship-and land-based expedition through the Arctic.
“RDC is thrilled to provide this year’s RISE award recipients with the opportunity to explore the world of research and work alongside top scientists, researchers and teachers. I wish each of the 15 students success in their enrichment programs this summer. I am confident these experiences will inspire them to pursue research and development opportunities in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math.”
- Mark Ploughman, Acting Chief Executive Officer, RDC
Since 2011, RDC has provided over 50 RISE Awards to high school students from across Newfoundland and Labrador. The awards are selected through a competitive process based on academic merit as well as written essays. For more information on this year’s award recipients and enrichment programs, see backgrounder below.
QUICK FACTS
- The RDC is providing Research Inspired Student Enrichment Awards to 15 high schools students from across Newfoundland and Labrador.
- Award winners will attend one of three enrichment programs: the Research Science Institute, the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program, and Students on Ice.
- The awards program is designed to cultivate a new generation of R&D leaders and enable the best and brightest students in the province to gain knowledge that will inspire pursuit of research-related careers.
- Awards range from $6,500 to $15,000, are awarded to students who excel in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and are based on academic merit and written essays.
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Media contacts:
|
Tansy Mundon Director of Communications Department of Business, Tourism, Culture and Rural Development 709-729-4570, 693-1865 tansymundon@gov.nl.ca |
Ashley Russell Marketing and Communications Specialist Research & Development Corporation 709-758-0308, 730-4079 ashleyrussell@rdc.org |
BACKGROUNDER
Students listed below are the successful 2016 RISE Awards recipients:
| Project Account | High School | Recommended Program | Award Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noelle Drover | Ascension Collegiate | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,395.00 |
| Mackenzie Furey | Holy Trinity High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Alberta Hansen | Holy Trinity High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $6,545.00 |
| Caleb Jones | Prince of Wales Collegiate | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Erin Maher | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Andrea McGrath-Janes | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Emma Neary | Gonzaga High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Ava Provencher | Waterford Valley High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Keisha Roche | Holy Trinity High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Divi Schmidt | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Emma Smart | Gonzaga High School | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $6,545.00 |
| Kayla Warren | St. James Regional High | Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program | $7,110.00 |
| Dina Shehata | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Research Science Institute | $14,948.48 |
| Nora Boone | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Students on Ice | $13,900.00 |
| Haleh Zabihi | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Students on Ice | $13,900.00 |
| Total | $127,223.48 |
Enrichment programs supported by RDC’s RISE Awards:
Research Science Institute (RSI) is a partnership between the Center for Excellence in Education (CEE), a not-for-profit organization based in McLean, Virginia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) which offers a six-week summer enrichment program in the Boston, Massachusetts area emphasizing advanced theory and research in STEM fields. This program introduces students to the entire research process, from literature review to experimental design and analysis.
Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program (DEEP) is a four-week program held at the University of Toronto which offers pre-university engineering and science enrichment and research project design opportunities.
Students on Ice (SOI) is a two-week ship- and land-based Arctic expedition providing students with education and research opportunities to help gain a real world perspective on present and future challenges facing the Arctic region such as climate change and resource development.
2016 05 26 9:50 a.m.