Desjardins rewards community students 

Four winners have been selected to receive scholarships from the Caisse Populaire Kahnawake. 

Each year since 2010, students of all kinds, whether high school, CEGEP, vocational studies, university, and the Kanien’kéha Ratiwennahní:rats Adult Immersion Program, are encouraged to submit applications for the scholarships, the winners of which are selected by the bank’s board of directors. 

"They basically look at not just academics, but also community involvement, volunteering, arts, sports, and activities,” said Mandie Montour, general manager of the Kahnawake branch of Desjardins. “So it's not just grades, but the overall student themselves and what they contribute to the community.”

The winners of each category were Jayla White, who received the $500 High School Scholarship Award; Kanahne Rice and Miles Horn each won the $1,000 University Scholarship Award; and Julie Teiokerathe Delisle won the $1,000 bursary for the language program.

“I was honestly surprised, and it made me really emotional,” said Rice, currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in social work at McGill University.

“I never thought I would go back to school and get a degree, but becoming a mom, I just felt more confident in my ability to do so. I just knew that this was the next step in my life that I had to take and to just be a good role model for my daughter.”

Rice said the money will help towards bills, helping to alleviate the burden of parenting as a single mom.

“I'm really happy that it will be able to take away that much of a burden,” said Rice.

As part of the requirement for the scholarship, students are required to write a biography, as well as have letters of recommendation.

“I really highlighted my desire to contribute to the overall wellness within our communities presently, during my degree and after,” said Rice.

Her goal after completing her degree is to build her own programs to help the community and continue raising her daughter in Kanien'kéha.

Not all available scholarships are necessarily given every year, usually due to a lack of applicants for certain categories, said Montour. This year, for example, Desjardins received no applications from CEGEP or vocational students.

Rice said it was unfortunate that no students applied for either scholarship.

“Just go for it. Do your best to do the application and don't let your fear get in the way,” said Rice.

The scholarship recipients went to a brunch at Two 0 Seven, where Rice discussed the language program with Delisle.

“We spoke a lot about just the work that she's doing and environment and she's in,” said Rice.

“It was really exciting to talk to someone in the program and kind of give them pointers, or just let them know not to be too overwhelmed and just do what you can during the program. I knew I always wanted to, when I had children, raise them in the language as much as I could, and I'm doing that now, and it just paid off in the long run.”

Additionally, Tyler Curotte – who happened to be this year’s Eastern Door summer student – won a $2,000 scholarship from the Desjardins Foundation in the University category. 

“I had applied for the scholarship on a whim, and didn’t necessarily expect to win,” said Curotte, who is currently working towards a communications and rhetorical studies degree at Syracuse University. “However, my grades were good last semester, so I thought my chances were pretty promising.”

Like Rice, Curotte will mainly use the money to take care of expenses while he is studying.

“It helps me in the sense that I don't have to work while in school and I'll be able to focus more on my studies,” said Curotte.

Curotte also encouraged any student from the community to apply for a scholarship.

“I feel as though many people choose not to apply because they think their chances of winning are slim, but the truth is that you never know what could happen,” said Curotte.

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