Brock University invests in future of Niagara high school students

Two high school students pose for a photo holding certificates.

Arianna Richards and Adaeze Uwaneme of Denis Morris Catholic School receive Niagara Principal’s Scholarships at Brock University on Wednesday, May 15.

Isabella Corriveau stood amidst the gentle hum of prospective students asking questions and getting acquainted as late afternoon sunlight streamed through the expansive glass ceiling of Brock University’s Rankin Family Pavilion.

She felt a sense of excitement and anticipation, knowing this is where she will begin her post-secondary journey this fall.

Corriveau, a student at Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf Catholic Secondary School in Welland, was among 67 recipients of Brock’s Niagara Principal’s Scholarships honoured at a reception on campus Wednesday, May 15.

“The moment I stepped onto campus for a tour, it just felt right. The environment is so welcoming,” Corriveau said. “I could see myself thriving in such a supportive community. Everything about Brock just clicked for me, and I knew this was where I wanted to spend the next few years of my life.”

A teenage girl poses for a photo in a sunny room.

Isabella Corriveau was one of 67 recipients of Brock University’s Niagara Principal’s Scholarships.

Brock has presented $2,500 entrance scholarships to two graduating students from almost every public, Catholic and private secondary school in the Niagara region for the ninth consecutive year.

The award will help Corriveau pursue a degree in Recreation and Leisure Studies in Brock’s Faculty of Applied Health Sciences.

She was inspired to pursue this pathway after working in a long-term care home last summer and foresees the therapeutic recreation component of her program as a rewarding endeavour.

“It means a lot to me to give back to the community and help others,” she said. “It was amazing to see how the Rec and Leisure courses are designed to blend theory with practical experience. The professors I met were genuinely passionate about their subjects and eager to help students succeed.”

This year’s scholarships total $167,500. Recipients are selected by principals from each Niagara high school based on a combination of academic achievements, school and community involvement and financial need.

The Principal’s Scholarship program has offered more than $1.4 million in funding to local high school graduates since its inception in 2015.

“We are incredibly proud to support and recognize the outstanding achievements of these bright young minds through the Niagara Principal’s Scholarships,” said Geraldine Jones, Brock’s Registrar and Associate Vice-President, Enrolment Services. “This event highlights our commitment to investing in the future leaders of Niagara. We look forward to witnessing their continued success and contributions both on our campus and in the broader community.”

The reception, which hosted scholarship recipients alongside their families, principals, teachers and guidance counsellors, also welcomed more than 100 students to learn more about the next steps after receiving their acceptance letters from Brock.

Scholarship recipients were gifted an awards backpack filled with Brock University gear and items.

Recipients of the 2024 Niagara Principal’s Scholarships: