The Lambton Federation of Agriculture recently announced 8 scholarships to deserving post secondary students. This year, with Covid-19 restrictions, the awards were presented virtually online on August 20th.
The first scholarship presented was the Bill and Dorothy Abraham Scholarship for $1,000. Bill Abraham was a long time agriculture representative of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food. He and his wife, Dorothy made their home in Petrolia and raised their family there. The scholarship is in their honour and goes to a student from Lambton County who is enrolled in the 1st year of a diploma or degree program in agriculture at a recognized post-secondary institution.
The winner was Gracie Goodhill in Warwick Township. She is a recent graduate of North Lambton SS and she will be attending Guelph University this fall studying towards a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Food and Agricultural Business. In her application she states she is a 4th generation farmer who works along side her family growing cash crops.
The next scholarship was the Bell Scholarship for $1,000 in honour of Mr. Bell who was a farmer in Moore Township who left funds in his Will to set up a scholarship for Lambton County students and to be administered through the Lambton Federation of Agriculture. To qualify for the scholarship, the student must be enrolled in the 2nd or more year of a program in agriculture.
This year’s winner was Hannah Symington who lives near Watford. She is enrolled at the University of Guelph studying towards a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture with a major in Crop, Horticulture and Turf Grass Science with a certificate in business. She states in her application that after she completes her degree she hopes to enrol in a Master’s Program in Weed Sciences. Since 2016, she has been the director and chairperson of the annual Alvinston Terry Fox Run.
The Patrick and Timothy Kerrigan Scholarship is for $1,000 and is awarded to a student enrolled in the 2nd or more year of college or the third or more year of university in any post secondary program at a recognized post secondary institution in Ontario. The Kerrigan brothers lived near Reeces Corners and they decided to set up a scholarship to be administered by the Lambton Federation of Agriculture because they were pleased with the assistance that they received from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture and the Lambton Federation of Agriculture in negotiating a settlement with the government at the time that 402 was being built and was limiting the access to all of their farm properties.
This years scholarship was awarded to Eric Marsh of the Wyoming area. He is enrolled at Lambton College studying Chemical Production and Power Engineering Technology which is a 3 year program. He writes in his application that he has been a member of his local Legion for the past 4 years and he has served for the past 2 years on the Legion executive.
The Lois Wakefield Scholarship for $1,000 is presented by the Lambton Federation of Agriculture in honour of their former secretary treasurer who served the federation for 49 years. The scholarship is awarded to a student enrolled in the fist year of any post secondary program of 2 years or more in length.
This year’s winner was Emily Van Ewyk who lives in the Brigden area. She will be attending Lambton College this fall and is enrolled in the Bachelor of Science program in Nursing. This is a four year program. She says that she hopes to work one day for Bluewater Health at either the Sarnia or the Petrolia locations.
The Dona Stewardson Scholarship for $1,000 is in honour of Dona who was a long time Lambton Federation of Agriculture director and served on the Ontario Federation of Agriculture executive committee as Vice President. To qualify for this scholarship, the student is to be enrolled in the 2nd or more year of any post secondary program.
This year’s winner was Emma Darrach who lives near Petrolia. She is studying at McMaster University enrolled in a 4 year program towards an Honours Bachelor of Commerce. She states that after completing her educational degree she wishes to become a Chartered Professional Accountant. She has served on the executive of Petrolia’s Relay for Life and has acted as the master of ceremonies for the event.
The Don McCabe Scholarship for $1,000 was presented by the Lambton Federation of Agriculture to honour one of their long term directors. McCabe rose up through the provincial organization to become the president of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. To qualify for this scholarship, the student must be enrolled in the 3rd or more year of any post secondary program. A further criteria for this scholarship is to have been involved in 4-H programs in Lambton County with the completion of a minimum of 6 projects.
The successful student was Maggie Annett who lives near the village of Shetland. She is enrolled at the University of Guelph studying Wildlife Biology and Conservation. She writes that she grew up along the Sydenham River which is home to a number of endangered species. She says that it would be rewarding to develop and implement new ways to preserve natural habitats and to introduce these practices into the farming community.
As for the 4-H connection to the scholarship, she writes that she has 4-H leaders for parents and this has allowed her to be heavily engaged in 4H for her whole life. The leadership skills that she has developed at various 4H leadership camps have been valuable in gaining employment and in leading group projects in her school.
The Joyce Anderson Scholarship was presented by Jane Anema Executive Director of the Sarnia Community Foundation.
Joyce Anderson was a representative of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food working in Lambton County. She died at a relatively young age and her family donated funds to the Sarnia Community Foundation to provide an annual scholarship to a 2nd or 3rd year student of any post secondary program at a recognized post secondary institution.
The winner was Katlyn Griffith of Brooke Township who is a student of practical nursing at St. Clair College, Chatham Campus. She has worked part time as a PSW at London Health Science Centre as well as Meadowview Villa Long -term Care Facility in Petrolia.
Also announced at the August 20th online event, Anne McGugan representing the Lambton County Women’s Institute awarded a scholarship to Kevin McGrail from the Wyoming area.
The Lambton Federation of Agriculture is pleased to be able to support deserving students in their pursuit of higher education.
~Burt McKinlay~
Chair, Scholarship Committee