The Winkler Community Foundation (WCF) presented this year’s Gordon Wiebe ‘Make it a Reality’ scholarship Tuesday, May 9th in Winkler.
Friends, family, and other supporters gathered in the atrium of the Winkler Civic Centre to celebrate alongside Aiden Friesen, as he accepted the $25,000 award.
Friesen is a grade 12 student at Winkler’s Northlands Parkway Collegiate (NPC) with plans to attend the University of Manitoba this fall, and eventually pursue a career in engineering.
“He started working when he was just out of Grade 8, and he continued this job, well several jobs actually,” said Barb Neufeld, chair of WCF’s scholarship committee. “So, we looked at that and went, okay, what 13 or 14-year-old stays that dedicated to a job? Volunteers at church? Does some work for the student council, as well as doing extremely well academically? And then in the interview process we were so impressed with his down-to-earth nature and humility. He’s a really lovely young man.”
Friesen says the scholarship has lifted a huge weight, as it’s taken away any doubt in his mind about whether his post-secondary aspirations are financially viable.
“Just try!” – That is advice Friesen has for other students if they hear of an opportunity like the ‘Make it a Reality’ scholarship.
“When the scholarship first came out, in my head, I was thinking there’s like ten other applicants that I would think will apply, and they’ll probably get it over me. And then I applied through a mixture of, I just wanted to start applying for scholarships, and my parents were ‘Aiden, you should apply…And then, I’m here now. I did not expect this. I don’t think anyone really does so. I mean, you just got to try. That’s what I’ll say.”
Friesen says the scholarship has lifted a huge weight, as it’s taken away any doubt in his mind about whether his post-secondary aspirations are financially viable.