Lloydminster’s Jayden Dixon is getting some help on his next step of schooling, from the Saskatchewan Government.
Dixon, a grade 12 student at Hillmond Central School, was awarded the Husky Apprenticeship Scholarship. It is part of the Saskatchewan Youth Apprenticeship Industry Scholarships, recognizing students wanting to make a career in the Skilled Trades. Schools from all over the province can nominate their students for the SYA scholarships, and several Industry Education Councils nominate as well.
Dixon says he was surprised to learn that he’d been given the award, and credits good grades and hard work for it.
“Well, I was just surprised to get it, with the amount of people who are actually able to get this award. I’m not sure about that [number,] but I’m just very grateful that I’m able to take a career in apprenticeships, and get this scholarship for it.”
The scholarships are $1,000 for each student and are issued two years after graduation. Students have to show they are pursuing a career in the skilled trades. This is done either by registering as an apprentice and completing Level 1 technical training or by completing a pre-employment course in an approved trade.
Students also complete 12 activities, including interviewing a journeyperson, writing a report on a designated trade and completing the Young Worker Readiness Certificate Course. Their apprenticeship, tuition and Level 1 technical training registration fee is waived if they do. They also receive 300 trade time hours.
The next step in Dixon’s schooling comes in the fall and will see him working towards his apprenticeship, and eventually his employment ticket.
“I’m actually accepted in Prince Albert, at Saskatchewan Polytechnique, and I’m accepted into their millwright pre-employment program, so the plan is to pursue that.”
More students from the area also received scholarships as well. Unity Composite High School’s Logan Lindsay, Tanner Fauth and Caden Lewin, McLurg High School’s Colby Henderson, St. Walburg School’s Kelton Augustin and North Battleford Comprehensive High School’s Tanner Gartner also got SYA scholarships.
More than 300 schools and over 4,000 students are registered in the SYA program, and the Saskatchewan Government says student enrollment is up 26 per cent this year for it.