New scholarship for northern students pursuing health careers

Northern students in health-related fields will soon be able to apply for a new scholarship being created by the Yellowknife Community Foundation.

At this Saturday’s annual fundraising gala, the foundation will celebrate the creation of the Butler-Hushagen Health Education Fund in association with Rob Butler and Tannis Hushagen.

The scholarship is open to students from the NWT, Yukon, and Nunavut pursuing post-secondary education in health. Financial details of the fund were not released.

Applications will be accepted from March, when more information will be available on the foundation’s website. The scholarship joins 30 others administered by the foundation.

Former NWT residents Butler and Hushagen said the North “continues to be a big part of our lives.”

In a news release, Butler said: “We came to Yellowknife for two years in 1981 and stayed for more than two decades.

“A piece of our hearts will always remain in the North. This scholarship is an opportunity for us to give back to a community that has been so good to us as individuals and a family.”

Hushagen, who graduated from Aurora College’s nursing program, said: “I have seen the benefits that supporting northern students can have.

“This was a contributing factor to inspire us to set up a fund to assist northerners striving to help others by furthering their education in health-related fields.”

Robin Greig, the foundation’s president, said the scholarship would be “an important contribution to the success of many students over many years to come.”