NORTH BAY -- Chippewa Secondary School in North Bay is celebrating along with five of its students for their academic achievements.
Four of them have been invited to an elite summer academic program at Canadian universities, and one has been awarded a scholarship worth $36,000.
Grade 12 student, Maeve Stemp is thrilled to get the news that one of Canada’s most prestigious schools, Queen’s University in Kingston, that it wants her to study there and will pay to have her.
“It was really exciting to find out all of the hard work I’ve done at Chippewa and in North Bay would be translated to my life in Kingston next year,” says Stemp.
Stemp posted a 95 per cent average in her International Baccalaureate (IB) and French immersion courses. She is one of just 50 students chosen from across Canada for the Queen’s University’s Chancellor’s scholarship, and will study concurrent education with plans for a degree in arts. Over 5,000 students applied for the scholarship.
Stemp organized and planned a major community event as part of her International Baccalaureate Diploma called “Art Battle for Babies.” This initiative raised funds to purchase baby formula for the North Bay Food Bank and landed her a feature in the ‘IB World Magazine.’
She has also been heavily involved in Chippewa Student Council as student senator, a yearbook editor, and organizing the Arts Fair Banquet.
“All of her courses are at the IB Level as well as engaging in creativity and activity in service as well as taking a theory in knowledge course. She’s a really well-rounded student,” says Chippewa guidance counsellor Kim Larivee.
Stemp hopes to be a teacher one day and credits her time at Chippewa for inspiring her.
“It’s taking my passions and wanting to see a difference and being told you can do that,” says Stemp.
Four other Chippewa students will be attending an elite academic program in July called the Shad Innovation Challenge. It’s the first time four students from the school have been selected.
“I’ll be able to go to one of 19 universities from across Canada to study science, technology, engineering and math,” says Grade 11 student Lisa Zhao.
“This will be a great experience for both my future and for going into the IB program,” says Grade 10 student, Michelle DeLoyde.
Students in the program have the opportunity to meet and work with other young minds in the country.
Grade 10 student Lauren DeLoyde, twin sister of Michelle, isn’t sure what she wants to do yet when she graduates, saying, “I hope going to SHAD can help broaden my horizons.”
“It means I get to see wat it’s like to go to university. I’m pretty nervous about it,” says Grade 11 student Diljan Sidhou.
Chippewa’s guidance counsellors say these five students highlight the high school’s success and are very deserving of their opportunities.
“I hope there’s a trickle-down effect to all students in North Bay to really put yourselves out there,” says guidance counsellor Colleen Point. “Get your leadership done and volunteer.”
