Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph - Local Little Brother Wins 2005 CIBC Youthvision Scholarship

2005 CIBC Scholarship Winner Lukas Mills and BB
2005 CIBC Youthvision Recipient Lukas Mills with his Big Brother Andrew Clark

CONGRATULATIONS LUKAS!

For the second year in a row Big Brothers Big Sisters of Guelph (BBBSG) is proud to announce that a local teen is the receipient of a national scholarship program for grade ten students involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters mentoring programs.

16 year old Lukas Mills is one of 30 students across Canada who won the prestigious CIBC Youthvision scholarship this year. Last year another local teen, Kirsten Balint-Skerritt, was also selected from hundreds of entries to receive the scholarship. Both Lukas and Kirsten are eligible to receive up to $34,000 in scholarship funds and summer internship stipends over a six-year period.

Lukas, a Little Brother in our agency's one-to-one match program, received his scholarship at a special presentation held in Toronto for Ontario recipients. On hand to congratulate him was his mom, BBBSG caseworker Brenda Wiseman, and most importantly, his Big Brother Andrew. Lukas and Andrew have been matched for several years and Andrew was instrumental with encouraging Lukas to fill out his scholarship application.

"The CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Program was designed to encourage, motivate and inspire young people to pursue post-secondary education and reach their full potential," said John Hunkin, CIBC president and chief executive officer, in a press release. "Our unique partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada and the YMCA contributes to the positive personal development of these students by combining post-secondary education, mentoring, and internship experience."

As a CIBC Youthvision scholarship recipient, Lukas will be awarded up to $4,000 per year in tuition for four years of college or university education. Starting after Grade 11, he can participate in summer internships at the YMCA that allow him to learn as he earns. While in high school, Lukas will receive up to $2,000 per summer working at the YMCA, increasing his earning potential as he enters college or university. A YMCA employment coach will be assigned to Lukas to help coordinate his internships and arrange job orientation and training. Meanwhile, Lukas and Andrew will continue their mentoring-based friendship through BBBSG.

The staff at BBBSG wishes to express our congratulations and best wishes to Lukas as he pursues his goal of attending the University of Waterloo to study computer science.