On September 20, we announced the recipients of QIA’s new scholarships for post-secondary students enrolled in the 2017-2018 academic year. Within minutes our inbox was flooded with messages from some of the scholarship recipients.

The 80 new scholarships at $2,500/year, were awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis to students from Qikiqtani who are pursuing post-secondary education.

Here’s what the scholarship recipients had to say:

“Thank you for the great news! This came at a perfect time.”

• Enooyaq Sudlovenick

“That’s so great! Thank you!”

• Jennifer Kadluk

“I can’t thank you enough for this! Qujannamiirpaaluk!”

• Natasha Qattuuq Karpik

“Omg! Yes!!!!! Thank you so much!!!”

• Sonny Lee Natanine

“I am pleased to accept the scholarship as I will use the money to buy more tools to help me complete my courses and also for my future career.”

• Samuel kuluguqtuq

“It is with pleasure that I write this message to thank the QIA Scholarships division for accepting my application. I appreciate your efforts in supporting beneficiaries from the Qikiqtani region who are committed to their studies in the post secondary education level. This scholarship will greatly benefit myself and my family in many ways. Again, thank you.”

• Clara Leetia Akulukjuk

“Thank you for this amazing news!”

• Jukipa Anrango Kotierk

“YAAAY! Thank you!”

• Tina Mary Kunilusie

“This has been the most amazingest news today.”

• Jenna Natanine Palituq

Quick facts about the scholarship recipients:

• Recipients include students from all 13 Qikiqtani communities
• Recipients include both recent high school graduates and mature students returning to school
• Many recipients are parents
• Numerous recipients are single-parents
• 56 of our scholarship recipients are women
• 24 of our scholarship recipients are men
• 28 of our 80 recipients are enrolled in Nunavut’s Arctic College
  • 10 in the Environmental Technology program
  • 9 in Nunavut Teacher Education program
  • 3 in the Interpreter/Translator program
  • 2 in the Nursing and Health sciences program
  • 2 in the Jewelry and Metal Work program
  • 1 in the Early Childhood Education program
  • 1 Office Administration program

• 7 recipients are enrolled in the Nunavut Law program
• 12 recipients are enrolled in Nunavut Sivuniksavut
• 2 recipients are enrolled in law programs in the south
• 18 recipients are enrolled in college programs in the south
• 9 recipients are enrolled in university undergraduate programs in the south
• 4 recipients are enrolled in university graduate programs in the south

Meet some of our scholarship recipients:

Arctic Bay

Arctic Bay’s Jennifer Qaqqasiq Taqtu, 22, is a student in Nunavut Sivuniksavut’s one-year-program.

Kinngait

Marykulu Macmunn, 45, originally from Kinngait, now living in Iqaluit is a third-year student at Nunavut Arctic College’s Interpreter/Translator program.

Clyde River

Clyde River’s Jenna Natanine Palituq, 31, is a first-year-student in Nunavut Arctic College’s Nunavut Teachers Education Program.

Grise Fiord

Grise Fiord’s Etuangat Akeeagok, 21, is a second-year-student in the Environmental Technology Program at Nunavut Arctic College.

Sanirajak

Sanirajak’s Cathy Pikuyak, 23, is a student at Algonquin College’s Advanced Inuit Studies program.

Igloolik

Igloolik’s Beth Kotierk, 28, is a third-year Juris Doctor student at the University of Ottawa.

Iqaluit

David Lawson, 34, is a first-year student in the Nunavut Law Program offered by Arctic College in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan.

Kimmirut

Kimmirut’s Karen Nungaq, 43, is a second-year student at Nunavut Arctic College’s Environmental Technology program.

Pangnirtung

Pangnirtung’s Emily Karpik, 31, is a first year student in the Nunavut Law Program offered by Arctic College in partnership with the University of Saskatchewan.

Pond Inlet

Pond Inlet’s Jena Merkosak, 26, is a second-year student in Nunavut Arctic College’s Nursing program.

Qikiqtarjuaq

Qikiqtarjuaq’s Jenny Mosesie, 22, is a second-year student at Nunavut Arctic College’s Environmental Technology program.

Resolute Bay

Resolute Bay’s Lisa Komangapik, 44, is a first-year student at Nunavut Arctic College’s Interpreter/Translator program.

Sanikiluaq

Sanikiluaq’s Mick Appaqaq, 25, is a second-year student at Nunavut Arctic College’s Environmental Technology program.