Student stars discovered

Dozens of the West Island’s brightest high school students were handed out scholarships at the 10th annual Discover the Stars gala held recently in the Pauline-Julien Theatre at College Gérald-Godin in Ste. Geneviève.

The Discover the Stars program, organized by the West Island of Montreal Chamber of Commerce, grants financial support to West Island high school graduates who will go on to study in a science or technology program in CEGEP. This year, 42 students from 13 high schools from the two participating school boards, Marguerite-Bourgeoys and Lester B. Pearson, each received a $ 1,000 scholarship.

The two most exceptional students of these winners, James Austin from Beaconsfield High School and Daiana Denise Masckauchan from École secondaire Dorval / Jean-XXIII, were awarded an additional $3,000 scholarship from the Aileen Proudfoot Memorial Award Foundation.

Elizabeth Tropea, vice-president customer service for Bell Canada and this year’s president of the Discover the Stars Program, said, “these students represent the finest of our graduating classes; they distinguish themselves not only through their excellence in academic achievement but also through their volunteerism and involvement with many community projects in the West Island.”

Since 1997, nearly 400 high school graduates from West Island public schools have shared $439,000 in scholarships over the last 10 years.

The objective of this scholarship is to help lessen the financial burden of college students enrolling in a scientific technology or a science program leading to university studies. The choice of a science or technology program is mandatory. The students must be full-time and Secondary V graduates in one of the West Island High Schools from the Lester B. Pearson School Board and Commission Scolaire Marguerite-Bourgeoys sectors.