To support Indigenous women in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), the De Beers Group offers annual scholarships for first-year students at Canadian colleges and universities. Each recipient gets a $4,500 scholarship courtesy of De Beers Group.

Please join us in congratulating our 2024 scholarship recipients! Three incredible Indigenous women were selected this year; let's meet them!

Aubrey Sluggett

Aubrey's from Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, and is now in her first year of honours health science at the University of Waterloo. She chose Waterloo for its excellent co-op program, which can open doors of opportunity for her career! She's on the long road to becoming a medical doctor, with plans to "continue [her] education in medical school" after her undergrad.

Aubrey found the application process easy enough; she focused on her essay, first, then spoke with teachers and her employer about writing reference letters for her. She "felt great" after submitting the application, and was "super excited and proud of [herself]" when she heard she was selected!

"Receiving the scholarship is really meaningful in motivating me to continue with my educational journey, as I have years left of school ahead," Aubrey says. "I hope that receiving this scholarship will encourage other girls in STEM" to explore their futures, she adds.

In terms of advice for future applicants, Aubrey says, "I would encourage others applying for scholarships similar to this is to be yourself and be honest on your application." Great advice! She adds, "I would also suggest getting involved in your community."

Congratulations once again, Aubrey, and best of luck on your path to becoming a doctor!

Symone Berube

Symone's Tthebatthı Dënésułıné and French Canadian, born in the town of Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, but raised in Yellowknife. She's now at York University, in Toronto, pursuing studies in neuroscience, with the goal of "narrow[ing] into behavioural and cognitive neuroscience." Symone plans to return to the North after graduation, "providing education and insights to the youth."

"As an Indigenous woman in STEM, I feel extremely grateful to be supported," Symone says. She wants "to motivate and educate others that [STEM education] is possible, and that there are supports for us." Symone continues, "I really want to inspire other young Indigenous women and see more of us in the STEM field." To the De Beers Group team, Symone expresses her thanks: "This support greatly helps in making us feel seen and supported, and for that I thank you."

Symone, congratulations on being chosen as a scholarship recipient! We can't wait to see where your studies in neuroscience take you.

Madison Menacho-Melnyk

Madison's from a small town in the Northwest Territories, and she's staying in the north for her undergraduate studies in environment and conservational sciences, with a major in northern systems, at Yukon University in Whitehorse, Yukon. She chose Yukon U due to their partnership with Aurora College, where she had already completed a diploma in environment and natural resources technology.

Madison plans to work in forestry after her graduation; "something to do with wildfires," she says, "as I've just gotten a taste of working within the field as a summer student." She's confident in her plan "to return back to the NWT to work within their fire management program."

When she learned she was chosen as a scholarship recipient, she was "relieved, excited, and extremely grateful," as the news "came at a time when I was in great financial need, and with this, I'll now be able to comfortably head into my second semester."

Receiving the scholarship was a major encouragement. "You can always achieve whatever you put your mind to," Madison says. "The world is your oyster!" Thinking about applying for a scholarship like this in the future? "take the chance!" Madion says. "Like Michael Jordan had said, you miss 100% of the shots you don't take!"

Big congrats, Madison, and best of luck fighting fires in Canada's north! Mahsi cho (thank you) for applying!

Once more, join us in applauding the recipients of the De Beers Group Scholarships for Canadian Women. 2024 was a huge year, with nearly 600 applicants, so if you applied, be sure to give yourself a pat on the back too!

Each of the three women above will receive a $4,500 scholarship from De Beers Group to support their studies in STEM. To our three recipients for 2024: way to go!

And again, thanks to all our applicants. We couldn't do it without you!