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Bates Scholarship Helps Worthy Student Achieve Goals

Scholarship winner Cynthia Belaskie

It is with great appreciation that I write this letter of thanks for your support over the past four years. Since I was first awarded the Harry C. Bates Scholarship in 1999, sponsored by the Bricklayer’s Union, I have completed my four-year Bachelor of Arts degree with a double concentration in English and History at Nipissing University in North Bay. My graduating average is 89%. I have worked as a professor’s assistant for two years. At Nipissing, I won several scholarships: the Nipissing University President’s Scholarship (the university’s most prestigious award), the Nipissing University Faculty Association’s History Award, the A.V. McKinnon Memorial Award, and the Tembec Citizenship Award. I was also the first student at Nipissing to be nominated for the Rhodes Scholarship to do graduate studies at Oxford University in England. Having the Harry C. Bates Merit Scholarship already on my resume certainly gave me an edge in the competition for these scholarships. I have also volunteered as the Vice-chairperson of the Nipissing University’s Women’s Centre, the President of the History Club, the Editor of Nipissing’s history journal Hindsight and I have written for the school newspaper, The Hlbou. Within the past year, I have authored three articles for Alcohol and Temperance in Modern History: An International Encyclopedia. My undergraduate career has been a very lucky and rewarding experience.

Next year I will be attending York University’s Masters of Arts programme in History. I have received $12,000 in funding from York, as well as the $15,000 Ontario Graduate Scholarship for next year. After completing my Master’s, I hope to go on to a Ph.D. Programme and teach at the University level.

Again, I would like to express my gratitude for your help in providing me with this valuable experience.

With thanks,
Cynthia Belaskie

Daughter of Local 7 CN member Robert Belaskie

Editor’s Note: Look for the 2003 Canadian Bates Scholarship
winners in the next issue of the Journal.