12 NSAC Undergraduates Receive NSERC Awards

12 undergraduate students, many from the Truro area, were honoured at a scholarship luncheon at Nova Scotia Agricultural College (NSAC) on July 30, 2008. The students were awarded prestigious Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRAs). These scholarships provide undergraduate students with the opportunity to work on a research project in the natural sciences and engineering for 16 weeks. The awards are worth $4,500 each plus a university contribution.

Students’ summer projects focus on research that addresses problems for the dairy, mink, blueberry and environmental sector as well as many others.

NSERC USRAs are given to students of high-caliber and are meant to stimulate interest in research in the natural sciences and engineering. NSERC Industrial USRA’s are similar, but allow students to gain research experience in an industrial setting by providing financial support through a host company.

The complete list of NSERC USRA scholarship winners:

Jennifer Hurford – Truro, NS
Darya Kryzskaya – Truro, NS
Megan MacEachern – Timberlea, NS
Tara MacLeod – Moncton, NB
Jessicca Mitchell – Truro, NS
Jessica Murray – Wellington, NS
Melissa Murray – Valley, NS
Dainis Nams – Tatamagouche, NS
Melissa Bezanson – Truro, NS
Sarah Davidson – Halifax, NS
Travis Esau (NSERC Industrial USRA) – Truro, NS
Jason Grant (NSERC Industrial USRA) – Baddeck, NS

Students at the luncheon also received an informative presentation on NSERC student scholarship programs by Dr. Raj Lada, NSERC Representative at NSAC. Dr. Lada strongly encouraged the students to explore the programs offered by NSERC and to consider postgraduate studies following the completion of their undergraduate degrees.

Front (L-R): Sarah Davidson, Jennifer Hurford, Darya Kryzskaya, Jessica Murray, Megan MacEachern.

Back (L-R): Dr. Leslie MacLaren, Vice-President Academic, Co-President, NSAC, Jessica Mitchell, Melissa Murray, Tara MacLeod, Melissa Bezanson, Dr. Raj Lada, NSERC Representative, NSAC.

Missing from photo: Dainis Nams, Travis Esau, Jason Grant.