International Minerals Innovation Institute (IMII), on behalf of its mineral industry members – BHP, Cameco, Mosaic and Nutrien, and Innovation Saskatchewan, are pleased to announce the winners of the iMpowered Scholarship Program, awarding $75,000 for the 2021-2022 academic year. iMpowered was created to support women and Indigenous students with financial responsibilities for their family and who are interested in a career in the minerals industry pursue a college, polytechnic, or university program in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or computer science.
“IMII recognizes that many adult learners carry financial responsibilities to their family and that it can impact their academic studies,” says Al Shpyth, IMII’s executive director. “This scholarship is meant to lighten that burden and support these students on their academic journey and the path to a career in the minerals industry.”
This year’s winners are Lovely Es Amuan and Nicole Launders, both pursuing the Mining Engineering Technology diploma program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. IMII has also award two previous scholarship winners with renewals, Michelle Low and Xiaoying (Sharon) Wang.
“Congratulations to the 2021 iMpowered Scholarship recipients, all of whom are Sask Polytech students,” says Dr. Larry Rosia, Sask Polytech president and CEO. “We are so proud of you. Your aptitude and hard work have not gone unnoticed. The iMpowered Scholarship is making a huge impact in the lives of our students, allowing them to focus on their education while also becoming integral members of a diverse, inclusive and qualified workforce for Saskatchewan’s minerals industry.”
“Life has been hard for my family since COVID started and my family and I have been helping my grandparents back in the Philippines since they don’t have the means to support themselves,” says Lovely Es Amuan. “Therefore, this scholarship is a great blessing because I would be able to go to school without worrying about my finances and be able to help my family.”
“By being awarded this scholarship, you have empowered my academic and career goals by removing the financial barrier I was faced with; being a mature student and living alone,” says Nicole Launders. “This has provided me peace of mind, allowing me to work less, focus more on my studies and securing better grades. It means so much to me that IMII chose me to be a recipient of the IMpowered scholarship and I can not put it into words how thankful I am.”
Michelle Low is enrolled in the Mining Engineering Technology program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Michelle had her first experience with the mining industry this summer while working on a research project with Nutrien and Saskatchewan Polytechnic funded through IMII and Mitacs.
Xiaoying (Sharon) Wang is an international student studying the Geomatics/Surveying Engineering Technology program at Saskatchewan Polytechnic. Sharon is in her third year in the program and will be graduating in May 2022.
The scholarship program is a five-year initiative that has IMII committing over $500,000 to help build a diverse, inclusive, and qualified workforce for Saskatchewan’s minerals industry.
The IMII has recently announced a special intake of applications for the 2022 winter academic session with submissions due by November 30, 2021. More information on the scholarship program can be found at iMpowered Scholarship (imii.ca).
Congratulations to Lovely, Nicole, Michelle, and Sharon!
