Nicola Smith and Christopher Fernander
|
Nassau, Bahamas
– With the support of The Canadian Lyford
Cay Foundation, Scholars Christopher Fernander and Nicola Smith are
furthering their education and pioneering opportunities for Bahamians.
Both of these amazing Scholars have chosen to pursue their education
in Canada, a country widely known for its
affordable living, diverse population, safe environment, low tuition
fees and high standards in education.
“Through
the Foundation, there are many opportunities for Bahamians to study
abroad in Canada and come back to use their newly developed
skills here in The Bahamas.” said Maureen French, Managing Director of
the Lyford Cay Foundations. “We applaud Nicola and Christopher for
blazing trails in innovative fields that are not often pursued.”
Christopher
Fernander is the recipient of a Technical Scholarship, which he is
using to study Commercial Diving at Holland College in Prince Edward
Island,
Canada. After being introduced to scuba diving in 10th
grade, Fernander was hooked. He quickly advanced to higher levels of
certification locally and began researching how he could transform his
passion into a viable career.
Fernander
is due to graduate with a certificate this year and will go on to
attend Seneca College for a weeklong Dive Medical Technician course to
further
enhance his training. Then he will return home to Nassau to finish his
tenure in the Royal Bahamas Defence Force while saving to start his own
commercial dive company.
When asked what he felt about young Bahamians pursuing scholarships to study in Canada, Fernander commented,
“Canada is very progressive and one thing I
learnt is that the trades are just as important as your lawyers and
doctors. The decision to study in Canada was well thought out and I
have no regrets venturing this far away from home.”
Graduate
Scholar Nicola Smith is equally enthusiastic about the support she’s
received from the Foundation. Smith is pursuing her Ph.D.
in Marine Biology at Simon Fraser University in British Columbia,
Canada. Smith’s inquisitive nature, outstanding academics
accomplishments and appreciation for nature made marine biology a
perfect career fit.
Smith
is certain that she wants to return to The Bahamas upon graduation in
2017 and contribute to nation-building by helping to foster
a culture of science where citizens make informed, evidence-based
decisions about the environment. She believes that she will be able to
use the knowledge and skills that she has acquired to teach at the
tertiary level or act as an environmental consultant
in the private or public sector.
Smith
completed her Bachelor of Science in Toronto, her Masters of Science in
Vancouver, and is now completing her Ph.D. just outside
of Vancouver. Her extensive experience in Canada has given her insight
into what the opportunity to study abroad could be like for other
Bahamians.
“Studying
in Canada has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life! I
feel most alive and fulfilled when I am in a safe,
nurturing and intellectually challenging environment,” noted Smith.
Smith
expressed the feeling of many Canadian Lyford Cay Scholars, “I can sum
up what the scholarship means to me in one word: opportunity.
Many people have dreams, perseverance, discipline and a strong work
ethic. Unfortunately, however, without access to the right
opportunities, many people fail to accomplish their dreams.”
The
Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation awards are valued up to $15,000 per
academic year with two special undergraduate awards valued up
to $25,000 per academic year.
To learn more about scholarship opportunities with the Lyford Cay Foundations, visit www.lyfordcayfoundation.org. Online applications
for Fall 2015 enrolment are due by
April 15th.
About The Lyford Cay Foundation
Lyford
Cay Foundation, Inc. and The Canadian Lyford Cay Foundation are private
philanthropic organisations established in 1969 and 1977,
respectively. The Foundations’ mission
is to invest in learning opportunities for children, young adults,
families and communities, all made possible by the generosity of
donors. Through a variety of programmes the Foundations assist children
in school as they prepare for college, students leaving
school with scholarships to attend college in The Bahamas and abroad,
and non-profits providing learning opportunities. To date more than $45
million has been invested in the lives of Bahamians.