The Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore, Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation today announced recipients of the Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards. Thirteen high school students from across the province received the prestigious awards to attend summer research-related enrichment programs throughout North America.
Since 2011, the Provincial Government has funded 110 RISE Awards for Newfoundland and Labrador students. The competitive process includes an assessment of academic achievement and written essays in which applicants must demonstrate an understanding of the importance of research and development to Newfoundland and Labrador.
RISE Awards, which range in value from $7,900 to $15,100, are given to students who demonstrate academic excellence in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). The successful student applicants will attend one of three research-related enrichment programs: the Research Science Institute located at Massachusetts Institute of Technology; the Boston Leadership Institute located in Wellesley, Massachusetts; or the Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program located at the University of Toronto.
Information on this year’s award recipients and enrichment programs is available in the backgrounder below.
Support for the RISE Awards delivers on commitments in The Way Forward to strengthen the province’s economic foundation and deliver better services and better outcomes for residents. The Way Forward outlines all actions the Provincial Government is taking to achieve a strong, diversified province with a high standard of living, and can be viewed at thewayforward.gov.nl.ca.
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“Our government believes in the importance of building interest in science and technology from an early age. Through our support of coding in schools and the RISE awards we are providing students an opportunity to reach their full potential and become tomorrow’s innovators, educators, researchers, and leaders. In doing so, we are expanding the pool and capacity of our province’s future entrepreneurs and innovators.”
Honourable Christopher Mitchelmore
Minister of Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation, and Minister Responsible for the Research & Development Corporation
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Eric Humber
Tourism, Culture, Industry and Innovation
709-729-4819
erichumber@gov.nl.ca
BACKGROUNDER
2017 Research Inspired Student Enrichment (RISE) Awards
Please see below the list of successful 2017 RISE Award student recipients:
Student Name | High School | Recommended Program | Award Amount |
Sarah Kennedy | O’Donel High School | Research Science Institute | $ 15,100 |
Dafydd Banfield | Holy Heart of Mary High School | Boston Leadership | $ 8,600 |
Julian Edwards | Waterford Valley High School | Boston Leadership | $ 8,600 |
Joshua Halliday | Waterford Valley High School | Boston Leadership | $ 8,600 |
Marie Kelly | Gonzaga High School | Boston Leadership | $ 8,600 |
Stefan Boon-Petersen | Gonzaga High School | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Holly Clarke | Gonzaga High School | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Megan Colbourne | Corner Brook Regional High School | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Matthew Halliday | Waterford Valley High School | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Melanie King | Ascension Collegiate | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Melanie Lundrigan | Marystown Central High School | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Tristan Salomom de Friedberg | Menihek High School | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Katherine Whelan | Prince of Wales Collegiate | Da Vinci Engineering | $ 7,900 |
Enrichment programs supported by the RISE Awards include:
- Research Science Institute – a partnership between the Center for Excellence in Education, a not-for-profit organization based in McLean, Virginia, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This institute offers a six-week summer enrichment program in the Boston, Massachusetts, area and emphasizes advanced theory and research in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. This program introduces students to the entire research process, from literature review to experimental design and analysis.
- Da Vinci Engineering Enrichment Program – a four-week program held at the University of Toronto. This program offers pre-university engineering and science enrichment and research project design opportunities.
- Boston Leadership Institute – a three-week program held in Wellesley, Massachusetts offering STEM research programs taught by top educators and researchers. Ranked among the top five summer science enrichment programs in the USA, this program provides students with an opportunity to develop high-level research skills and subject matter expertise through lectures, presentations and hands on experiments.