Porcha Lawrence, a 2006 graduate of Northwestern High School, has received the David S. Holmes scholarship, worth $500.

Lawrence, valedictorian of Northwestern, plans to attend the University of Michigan-Flint in the fall.

State Rep. Brenda Clack, D-Flint, founded the scholarship in 2005 to honor Holmes, a Democratic senator from Detroit who died in office in 1994. UAW Region 1-C initially provided funding for the scholarship.

source: http://www.mlive.com

The government of Australia has awarded a cricket scholarship to Trinidad and Tobago and West Indies fast bowler Ravi Rampaul, according to Cricinfo.

The support of her peers and professors has helped a University of Victoria law student garner Canada’s premier social sciences and humanities doctoral award—the Trudeau Scholarship.

Dawnis Kennedy is one of 15 Canadian students to be named a 2006 Trudeau Scholar. Created in 2003, the program awards the largest scholarships in Canada for doctoral studies in the social sciences and humanities. Scholarships are worth up to $150,000 over three or four years and allow winners to address major societal issues by interacting with prominent thinkers and leaders.

“I feel tremendously supported at UVic,” says Kennedy, an Anishinabe woman who is currently completing a master of laws degree at UVic. “It’s really important that indigenous students find their own approach to material. My supervisors have been amazing. I’ve been able to develop my own voice and I think this may be one of the reasons I have received this scholarship.”

Kennedy was chosen for the award based on her good grades, letters of sponsorship from her professors, and her contributions to the community. She often travels home to the Roseau River Anishinabe First Nation in Manitoba so that she can participate in Anishinabe culture and ceremonies.

Kennedy has also been involved in aboriginal legal services in Toronto and with the indigenous law students’ associations at UVic and University of Toronto. Once she finishes her studies at UVic this fall, Kennedy will begin the PhD program in juridical science at the University of Toronto.

“I wanted to go into law because my interest and my family’s interest were very much about revitalizing our community and culture,” says Kennedy. “Canadian law has had a huge impact upon our communities. I wanted to think about ways that Canadian law could relate more respectfully to indigenous peoples and support the revitalization movement that is happening in indigenous communities.”

“Dawnis’s success reflects the outstanding quality of students and programs at UVic, and celebrates the university’s commitment to strengthening its unique relationships with First Nations communities,” says Dr. Katy Mateer, acting vice-president academic.

UVic alumna Lisa Helps (history) has also won a Trudeau Scholarship. Helps is currently pursuing her doctorate at the University of Toronto. For more information on the scholarships and winners, go to www.trudeaufoundation.ca.

by Maria Lironi

source: http://ring.uvic.ca

Hudson, WI (Sports Network) - Jon Turcott fired an eight-under-par 64 on Thursday to take the first-round lead of the Scholarship America Showdown at Troy Burne Golf Club.

Nationwide Tour leading money winner Tripp Isenhour, Mario Tiziani, Travis Perkins and Mike Perez are knotted in second place at six-under-par 66.

Turcott, a Canadian Tour player who is making his first start on the Nationwide Tour this season, collected his first birdie of the round at the second, then ran off back-to-back birdies from the fourth. He added a birdie at the par-three eighth to make the turn at four-under 32.

On the back nine, Turcott parred his first three holes, then posted two birdies in a row from the 13th. He closed with back-to-back birdies to grab the first-round lead.

All totaled, none of Turcott's birdie putts were longer than 10 feet. Six came from the 15- to 18-foot range, and he found 10 of 14 fairways en route to his 64.

"I felt good on the range and felt like it was going where I wanted it to go," said Turcott. "I started rolling it pretty well and had a lot of good chances. You're going to have some downhill putts out here. You play a little more break with less speed and let it work its way in there. My speed was pretty good today."

This has been a remarkable week for Turcott. He was married last Saturday, then had a lesson the next morning with his coach, Dennis Tiziani, the father of Mario, who shares second place.

Then, on Monday, Turcott shot a 66 in the open qualifier to earn his spot in the field. If he failed Monday to qualify for this event, Turcott and new bride Christie, were going to drive 11 hours to this week's Canadian Tour event, the MTS Classic in Winnipeg.

"I got a case of the Mondays and for once it was a good Monday," said Turcott, who is making only his third career start. "We'll take it one day at a time. It's been my dream to play out here ever since I was little. You've got to follow your dreams I guess."

Tim O'Neal, Brent Schwarzrock, Cliff Kresge, Stiles Mitchell, Jin Park, Tommy Tolles, Jeff Quinney and Steve Schneiter are tied for sixth place at five- under-par 67.

source: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com