A Belwood woman attending Conestoga College has received a 2009 upper-year Garfield Weston award worth up to $40,000.
Miriam Bailey has been a St. John Ambulance member for over ten years, volunteering at community events and training younger members.
Nationally, only 48 of the awards are granted to students who are passionate about their fields of study; curious, courageous and willing to try new things; and community-minded and interested in becoming involved and making a difference in society.
Bailey visited Malta to learn about the organization’s history. She is also very involved in her rural community, serving as a youth director for 4-H and the Erin Agricultural Society. She is studying to be a paramedic.
Hundreds of students throughout Canada apply for the Garfield Weston awards, the largest scholarship available for college study in Canada. The awards are underwritten by the W. Garfield Weston Foundation (www.westonfoundation.org) and administered by The Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation.
Each award comprises an annual stipend of $8,000, a matching tuition waiver from a participating college, $3,500 in funding for summer internships and opportunities, one-on-one mentorship and participation in an annual national leadership conference.
Applications are available in January each year. For more information, visit www.garfieldwestonawards.ca.
Bailey is well known in the Wellington county community for her involvement in 4-H clubs. Last year she was featured in the Wellington Advertiser after she completed 100 4-H club projects.
Wellington County 4-H secretary Barb McAllister said Bailey did that between the ages of 10 to 21.
She credited her family for her involvement in 4-H.
“My older sisters were into it and I couldn’t wait to get started,” she said. “I used to tag along before I was old enough.”
Bailey said of the club, “4-H is hands on. It gave me confidence. The hands-on stuff really helps out with that.”
Bailey was home schooled, and has also been involved with the Erin Fall Fair board. She was also the Erin Fair Ambassador in 2005-06.
