SUBMITTED PHOTOS From left: Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat Tigers Scholarships recpiients Erica Brost, Quinn Halldorson and Mercedes Yeast.
Medicine Hat News
For Quinn Halldorson, the $2,500 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat Tigers Scholarship means he can live a little easier while away at school.
Halldorson is in his second year at the University of Alberta in Edmonton — he is pursuing a bachelor of science and honours chemistry degree.
“It means a lot to get the scholarship,” he said. “When I found out I was really excited. With the cost of education, support like this can go a really long way.”
Originally from the Hat, the 19-year-old is now living in the same city as his favourite hockey team.
“When I’m not doing things for school I like to watch hockey,” he said. “Other than that I really love going for runs and playing video games.”
Halldorson says the money will be put toward living expenses down the road.
“I know this is something that the Medicine Hat News and the Tigers don’t have to do, so it’s just so generous,” he said. “I’m putting the money away for now, then I’ll see what I need it for next semester.
“Whatever I use it for, my life will be a little less stressful because of the money.”
Moving from Irvine to Edmonton was a big change for Erica Brost, but she’s taking it in stride.
Erica was named one of two winners of the $2,500 Medicine Hat News Medicine Hat Tigers Scholarship, which will give her one less thing to think about while studying completing a combined lab and x-ray technology degree at the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology.
“With tuition, books, food and living so far from home — the money is going to be put to good use,” she said. “I’m really far from home so I’m paying rent — everything adds up.
“It was just really great to hear that I’d be getting this money.”
Growing up in Irvine, Brost says she wants to earn her diploma and then move back closer to home at a rural hospital.
“I’d like to return to my rural roots — just a little closer to home,” she said. “Bow Island or Brooks would be a preferable spot for me.
“I like the program I’m in because it combines both the x-ray work and the lab work aspect — I want all my days to be different.”
Brost is also competing on a AA ringette team while attending NAIT.
Mercedes Yeast has big plans for her future.
The third-year University of British Columbia student is studying for her bachelor of Science with a major in psychology at the school’s Okanagan campus, and plans on completing a PhD in a number of years.
“I chose this area of study because I want to help people with my career,” she said. “I know it’ll take a little while but I want to finish school and become a clinical psychologist and just help as many people as I can.
“Mental health and disabilities are becoming more and more known as time goes on and I know to make a difference for people.”
The 20-year-old was born in the Hat and is not sure where she will take her Master’s quite yet. She says the money from the Judy Hagel Scholarship will help her in a big way.
“I know I’ve got six to eight years of schooling left — any help financially I can get goes such a long way,” she said. “I found out in the middle of the last week and it was just such good news to get.
“I’ll be using the money to help with next semester’s tuition.”
