Fisheries and Marine Institute of Memorial University of Newfoundland

The Fisheries and Marine Institute (MI) of Memorial University presented 60 scholarships, awards and bursaries to students during its annual spring ceremony held March 14. MI hands out awards to students twice a year.

Patrick Thompson, a fourth-year student in the Nautical Science program, was one of four recipients of the Fry Family Foundation Leadership Award.

The award is presented to undergraduate students demonstrating outstanding leadership throughout the course of their MI program, through academic work, applicable professional work placements, and community involvement.

Mr. Thompson has competed annually in the Nautical Skills Competition in which MI students test their maritime skills and compete in a series of exercises in dynamic positioning, seamanship, cargo work, ship handling/navigation and offshore operations.

"Competing with other students, helping each other and learning from each other is what it's all about here the Marine Institute. That's what the scholarship award means to me - being involved in school and also sharing with others."

In the past two years his nautical skills teams have placed first at the competition founded by the Master Mariners of Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador Division.

Mr. Thompson has also volunteered with the Gathering Place, participated in MI orientation sessions with new students and parents, and last summer led a canoe trip through northern Ontario's Killarney Provincial Park.

"It was 10 days and about 100 kilometres with eight people as part of a leader in training program."

Elanor Dillabough, a third-year student in the Marine Environmental Technology program, was one of two recipients of the Canadian Federation of University Women Scholarship.

Established by the St. John's Club of the Canadian Federation of University Women, the scholarship is awarded annually to women who have graduated from high school in Newfoundland and Labrador and are enrolled in full-time, post-secondary studies.

"I'm very grateful to the Canadian Federation of University Women for this scholarship. They stand for a lot of the things I care about like literacy and celebrating women."

Ms. Dillabough works full time while attending classes and plans to return to MI in the fall to begin a Bachelor of Technology degree.

"Without the help of scholarships through the Marine Institute, I don't think I would have been able to get myself financially where I am now. It was very, very helpful."

In her spare time, Ms. Dillabough volunteers with the non-profit Canadian Improv Games that provide theatre-learning workshops, training sessions and performance opportunities for junior high and high school students to build skills in communication, leadership and teamwork.

"It helps a lot of kids, who are really, really shy and introverted, express themselves onstage. And it has definitely helped me with my program - I'm no longer scared of talking in front an audience."

Taking part in this year''s scholarship and awards ceremony were Glenn Blackwood, Vice-President, Memorial University (Marine Institute); Leslie Noftall, Registrar of the Institute; Capt. Sid Hynes, chair of MI's Industry Advisory Committee and Executive Chairman of Oceanex Inc.; and Angie Clarke, Director of Student Affairs at the Institute.