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Press Releases

1998 Releases

Thorold: Briar Lindsay Thompson of St. Catharines has been selected as the recipient of the Brian E. Merrett Bursary for 1998.

Ms. Thompson who graduated from Sir Winston Secondary School triumphed over many other highly qualified applicants from across the Niagara Region. She will attend Brock University to study Neuroscience. Briar has been active in numerous school and community affairs including; a member of the Niagara Youth Orchestra; Coordinator of various YMCA Sports and Arts/Drama Camps and a Fundraiser Coordinator for the French-Mahaffy Integrity Fund at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School. Briar has held first Class Honours Standing in all five years of secondary school.

The Brian E. Merrett Bursary was awarded for the fist time this year and will be awarded annually over the next four years to a resident of Niagara who is entering a recognized post-secondary institution in the Region. The value of the bursary is up to $1,000.00 for up to four years of under-graduate study. The bursary was established through a private anonymous donation in tribute to the many contributions that the then Regional Chair, Brain Merrett made to the community.

An Adjudication Committee comprised of Councillors, and representatives of the two area Boards of Education were responsible for the selection of the nominees. Regional Councillor Stan Petit as Chair of the Adjudication Committee commented that `The decision of the Committee was not an easy one, we have many highly talented and gifted students in this region'.

The runner up candidate for the award is Patrick Callaghan Boyle who following his graduation from Holy Cross Secondary School will enter Brock University with the goal of a Masters of Science in Biotechnology. Patrick, in addition to outstanding scholastic achievement has been active in school, and community sports, a volunteer in peer tutoring, community food drives and community events.

In announcing the awards, Chair Debbie M. Zimmerman commented 'We only have to stop and look at the exceptional talent of our young people and truly be proud of Niagara. Briar Thompson is an exceptional role model and we are very pleased to be able to help her to realize her dreams and aspirations".