Brock University awards scholarships to 66 Niagara high school grads
When Nima Abadinezhad’s family immigrated to Canada from Iran two years ago, they did so with his education in mind.
The Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School student has since worked hard to achieve his goal of attending university, which will become a reality in September when he begins in Brock’s Computer Science program.
Abadinezhad’s efforts saw him recognized as one of 66 recipients of Brock’s Niagara Principal’s Scholarships, which were presented during a reception hosted by the University on Wednesday, May 17.
For the eighth consecutive year, the University has presented the $2,500 entrance scholarships to two graduating students from nearly every public, Catholic and private secondary school in the Niagara region. This year’s awards total $165,000.
Recipients are selected by principals from each high school based on a combination of academic achievements, school and community involvement, and financial need.
For Abadinezhad, whose family faced hardships when they immigrated to Canada, the scholarship will have a significant impact.
He says his parents had to made big sacrifices, essentially starting from scratch, to begin a new life in a new country.
“This scholarship is going to help me a lot in terms of my future plans,” Abadinezhad says, adding the award has affirmed for his parents that the move has opened the door to new opportunities. “They can see that I’m growing here, that I’m happy, have a future, and that I’m also going to a good university.”
The Principal’s Scholarship program, which has offered more than $1.3 million in funding to local high school graduates since its inception in 2015, is just one of the many ways in which Brock invests in the future of Niagara, says President and Vice-Chancellor Lesley Rigg.
“Brock has proudly served as Niagara’s university for nearly 60 years and is committed to giving back to the region and its bright young minds,” Rigg says. “The Principal’s Scholarship recipients have already shined academically and through their community involvement, and we look forward to all that they will accomplish during their time at Brock and beyond.”
The reception held to honour the recipients welcomed the students alongside their families, principals, teachers and guidance counsellors, who came together with Brock representatives to celebrate their accomplishments.
In addition to being individually recognized at the ceremony, scholarship recipients were gifted an awards box filled with Brock University gear and items to get their post-secondary experience off on the right foot.
“Each year, we look forward to honouring the outstanding students chosen to receive the Niagara Principal’s Scholarships,” says Matt Melnyk, Director, Student Recruitment. “The reception is an opportunity for us to not only celebrate their achievements in the local community and in their respective schools, but also to set the stage for their future success at Brock, where we’re confident they will continue to excel.”
Recipients of the 2023 Niagara Principal’s Scholarships:
Isabella Berardi, A.N. Myer Secondary School
Payton Thomson, A.N. Myer Secondary School
Anjelica Mercey, Blessed Trinity Catholic School
Cassie Corbett, Blessed Trinity Catholic School
Anderson Cecchini, Denis Morris Catholic High School
Mateya Scalzi, Denis Morris Catholic High School
Sam Parlatore, Denis Morris Catholic High School
Aisha El Sahli, DSBN Academy
Sandra Lee, DSBN Academy
Lucas Motola, E. L. Crossley Secondary School
Jinja Shepherd, E. L. Crossley Secondary School
Carl Ferma, Eastdale Secondary School
Somaa Hamadamin, Eastdale Secondary School
Chiara Rathee, Eden High School
Tasneem Elatresh, Eden High School
Noha Nahli, Franco-Niagara Secondary School
Gavin Petri, Governor Simcoe Secondary School
Riley Campbell, Governor Simcoe Secondary School
Ellie May, Great Lakes Christian High School
Sadie Kennedy, Great Lakes Christian High School
Alazaya Collee, Greater Fort Erie Secondary School
Jesselyn Misner, Greater Fort Erie Secondary School
Jacob Dekorte, Heritage Christian School
Lauren Dejong, Heritage Christian School
Laura Avila, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Olivia MacLean, Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School
Nicole Otten, Jordan Christian School
Charis Farr, Jordan Christian School
Ben Morin, Lakeshore Catholic High School
Zoey Snider, Lakeshore Catholic High School
Ellie Warren, Laura Secord Secondary School
Sydney Robbs, Laura Secord Secondary School
Leila Bauer, Lifetime Learning Centre
Kaitlin McNulty, Lifetime Learning Centre
Emily Lockwood, Niagara Christian Collegiate
Alexa Osorio, Niagara Christian Collegiate
Ethan Mullins, Notre Dame College School
Katelin Oussoren, Notre Dame College School
Darien Gauthier, Port Colborne High School
Emma Laur, Port Colborne High School
Samuel Howe, Ridley College
Omar Abuhmeidan, Royal Imperial Collegiate of Canada
Jack Oosterveer, Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School
Jadyne Flores, Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School
Abby Critelli, Saint Michael Catholic High School
Ethan Kelly, Saint Michael Catholic High School
Briar Grant, Saint Paul Catholic High School
Julia De Prophetis, Saint Paul Catholic High School
Anika York, Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf
Lauren Corbeil, Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf
Nima Abadinezhad, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
Victoria Misener, Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School
Eleanor Lee, Smithville Christian High School
Laurel Graham, Smithville Christian High School
Mark Hallihan, St. Catharines Collegiate
Saffwan Chowdhury, St. Catharines Collegiate
Sydney Cruz, Stamford Collegiate
Jack Clarke, Stamford Collegiate
Grace Sargeant, Thorold Secondary School
Jenna Davies, Thorold Secondary School
Melissa Mazurkiewicz, Welland Centennial Secondary School
Nico D’Amelio, Welland Centennial Secondary School
Mackenzie Topp, West Niagara Secondary School
Milena Gallant, West Niagara Secondary School
Smith Schedler, Westlane Secondary School
Jacob Dempsey, Westlane Secondary School