MEDIA RELEASE — MAY 15, 2026 — R0041
Looking around a room full of her future Brock University peers, Emma Keltos-Scordino felt an immense sense of pride.
The Saint Paul Catholic High School student is looking forward to taking the next step in her educational journey, enrolling in the Concurrent Teacher Education (Intermediate/Senior) program while supported by an entrance scholarship from Brock.
Keltos-Scordino was among 58 graduating high school students honoured with the University’s Niagara Principal’s Scholarships during a ceremony Thursday, May 14 that welcomed the recipients and their families to campus.
The $2,500 entrance scholarship recognizes a combination of academic achievements, school and community involvement and financial need, with two graduating students selected from nearly every public, Catholic and private secondary school in the region.
“I’m very grateful to receive this scholarship. I give back to my school and community because I care, not because I expect anything in return, but it means a lot to make a difference in people’s lives,” says Keltos-Scordino. “This award makes me even more excited to come to Brock and, as I begin Concurrent Education, it will help me focus on my studies and work toward making a positive impact as a teacher.”
Now in its 11th year, the Niagara Principal’s Scholarship program has awarded more than $1.6 million to local teens since its inception in 2015.
The evening celebration brought together more than 200 students, family members, school administrators and educators to celebrate the recipients’ accomplishments and help prepare them for their next steps as Badgers.
“Community is a big part of who we are here at Brock. We take pride each year in building connections with and celebrating exceptional students from across the region who are having an impact in and out of the classroom,” says Geraldine Jones, University Registrar and Associate Vice-President, Enrolment. “This scholarship is one of the many ways we show our students we’re here to support them each step of the way on their path to launching the career of their dreams.”
Thursday’s ceremony saw the scholarship recipients honoured with an award certificate and a box filled with Brock gear and resources meant to give them a strong start to post-secondary.
Also supporting their transition to university life was a presentation held earlier in the evening that outlined key details on course registration, summer orientation programs, student awards and financial support, and what to expect in September.
A panel of 2025 Niagara Principal’s Scholarship recipients also returned to the event to share insight into their first-year experiences with the incoming class.
Brock’s 2026 Niagara Principal’s Scholarship recipients:
- A.N. Myer Secondary School: Bethany Teakle and Cate Janik
- Blessed Trinity Catholic Secondary School: Michael Marrese and Taylor Sexton
- Denis Morris Catholic High School: Chima Uwaneme and Jamie Kamendy
- DSBN Academy: Zachary Hillier and Sawyer Rousseau
- E.L. Crossley Secondary School: Abigail Marr and Nadia Casella
- Eastdale Secondary School: Sarah Chau and Annie Novak
- École secondaire catholique Saint-Jean-de-Brébeuf: Ophelia Fijavz and Lucas Fortier
- École secondaire Franco-Niagara: Marika Langenberg and Amour Samanga
- Eden High School: Grace Lombarczki and Addison Kendall
- Governor Simcoe Secondary School: Rowan Whittard and Nicola Fornelli
- Great Lakes Christian High School: Angelina Kluczenko
- Greater Fort Erie Secondary School: Emma Mowers and Wyatt D. Todd
- Heritage Christian School: Meghan Heikoop and Laura Klyn-Hesselink
- Holy Cross Catholic Secondary School: Gavin Contini and Vince Martin Terbio
- Jordan Christian High School: Rufaro Mafa and Jeongwoo Son
- Lakeshore Catholic High School: Piper McSween and Lilly Greenan
- Laura Secord Secondary School: Chloe St. Pierre and Lundyn Beaulieu
- Notre Dame College School: Mia Marchio and Ben Major
- Port Colborne High School: Eden Gagnon and William Laur
- Ridley College: Lauren Cressman
- Saint Francis Catholic Secondary School: Grace Van Bakel and Gabrielle Bilodeau
- Saint Michael Catholic High School: Katherine Segovia and Evan Cristelli
- Saint Paul Catholic High School: Temitayo Okuneso and Emma Keltos-Scordino
- Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School: Brayden Steele and Lily McWatters
- St. Catharines Collegiate: Noore Ayesha and Ajomiwe Chukwukaima Amblessed
- Stamford Collegiate: Hafsa Afridi and Saba Hamidy
- Thorold Secondary School: Abdurrhman Khalid and Sami Alaido
- Welland Centennial Secondary School: Julian Reid and Nevaeh Monfils
- West Niagara Secondary School: William Davis and Isabelle Fawcett
- Westlane Secondary: Sabrina Mohamed and Sarah Allard
For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
*Maryanne St. Denis, Associate Director, Strategic Communications, Brock University, [email protected] or 905-246-0256
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