Students receive top national award

"A dream come true."

That’s how Malaspina University-College students David McGarry and Heather Chatwin describe what it feels like to win one of Canada’s top undergraduate awards.

McGarry and Chatwin are among 111 Canadian university and college students to receive the 2005 Garfield Weston Merit Scholarship for Colleges (GWMSC). National winners receive $8,000 each from GWMSC and a tuition waiver from the institution of their choice, renewable for up to three years.

Administered by The Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation, the GWMSC awards recognize and reward students who combine academic promise with character, leadership potential and a commitment to service.

Originally from Quesnel, BC, McGarry is enrolled in Malaspina’s jazz program. During high school, he played in an adult community jazz band, and the Quesnel High School concert and jazz band, which earned him an honour award at MusicFest Canada. McGarry also volunteered at numerous events for seniors or children, municipal events, fundraising events and most notably as a peer tutor. He was also student council co-president of his high school last year.

Chatwin, a second-year Arts and Sciences student at Malaspina, graduated from Nanaimo District Secondary School (NDSS) in 2004, and completed one year at Langara College on the Lower Mainland before enrolling at Malaspina. Her long-term goal is to work in international relations.

"I heard about the Garfield Weston Merit Scholarship through a counsellor at the Career Centre at NDSS," said Chatwin. "She recommended that I apply because the scholarship focuses on community involvement. My advice to current high school students is to apply for every scholarship, award and bursary that you can because you might win."

Malaspina President Rich Johnston said both Chatwin and McGarry are "outstanding students who show tremendous potential to be leaders in this country. We’re delighted that they have chosen to study at Malaspina and we’ll be watching their career unfold with great interest."

The GWMSC selection process is the most intensive and personalized college scholarship evaluation in the country. Coming from communities all over Canada, the applicants are assessed through individual and panel interviews by volunteer leaders from the business, academic and community sectors across Canada.