Three local students are among eight on Vancouver Island who have been awarded $2,000 scholarships through Coastal Community Credit Union’s Scholarship Program.
Andrew Mitchell of Port McNeill and Jenna Cowan of Sointula, both graduates of North Island Secondary School, and Alisha MacDonald of Port Hardy Secondary School were each selected to receive the scholarships to assist in their post-secondary education.
Mitchell is one of two students also eligible for an additional $500 scholarship upon completion of a community project plan by the end of the summer.
Mitchell’s plan features beautification work on the recently completed Rotary Club Trail from Port McNeill to Hwy. 19. Mitchell has proposed to enhance the already popular local walking and cycling trail by adding paintings by local artists on posts to be installed alongside the trail.
He will receive a budget of $1,000 from CCCU for the project, and has already secured an agreement from local artist Lynda Biggs to provide one of what could be four paintings along the trail.
“The idea is to create a few more interesting features to lure more people out there, or at least to beautify it,” said Scott Mitchell, Andrew’s father.