Sport PEI Scholarship Winners
This year, Sport PEI will award four student-athlete scholarships valued at $1000. The criteria used to select the recipients includes achievements in sport, the classroom and their communities. This year, the scholarships were made possible thanks to sponsorships from Sport Centre Physiotherapy, Connolly Group and AVIS Car Rental who made two scholarships possible.
The 2019 Sport PEI Scholarship recipients are Zach Wilson (Bluefield), Julia Freeburn (Charlottetown Rural), Rory Aiken (Mount Academy) and Colin Curran (Montague). Each of the student-athletes have excelled in the classroom, their sport and their community.
Colin Curran, a Montague Regional High graduate, will be studying Kinesiology at UPEI in the fall and has plans to become a physiotherapist. Curran has an impressive resume, not just in sport, but also at school and in the community. On the soccer pitch, he was a member of the 2017 Canada Games squad, captain of the 2018 U17 PEI FC team, and was invited to attend a high potential prospect camp with the Vancouver Whitecaps. Topping off his sport performances, Curran is a former PEI Soccer Association Junior Male Player of the Year. Off the pitch, Curran maintains a 97% average in his grade 12 year and still finds time to volunteer with the Big Brothers Big Sisters program here on PEI. While attending UPEI, Curran will join the UPEI Men’s Soccer Panthers and will without a doubt make an impact in his rookie year.
Julia Freeburn, a Charlottetown Rural graduate boasting a 97.7% grade average in school and a volunteer at the Upper Room Soup Kitchen, will be studying Foods and Nutrition at UPEI this fall and has plans to become a Registered Dietitian. A multisport athlete, Julia has competed in badminton, track, volleyball, basketball and rugby. Although excelling in each is evident, it has been rugby where the Lake Verde native has started to make her mark in Eastern Canada. Having been named MVP of her AAA rugby squad, Freeburn was then ranked in the top two at Rugby Canada’s Atlantic Camp. From there, she was invited to compete with the U18 Canada East team who will take on rivals USA East this summer. Freeburn has her eyes set on making the national team in the very near future.
Zach Wilson, a Bluefield High graduate, will join the Arts program at UPEI this fall and will be majoring in History and Political Science. His future academic goal is to obtain a law degree. Wilson is not only an outstanding student, but an outstanding track athlete. He has represented PEI at the Legion Youth National Track and Field Championships the last four years, and holds three PEISAA track and field records. As a member of the 2017 PEI Canada Games 4×100 relay team, Wilson finished fifth with his team setting a new provincial record. Academically speaking, Wilson maintains his high standards to the classroom each semester and is currently sitting with a 97% grade average in his final year. On top of athletics and academics, Wilson has participated in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program.
Rory Aiken, a graduate of the Mount Academy, will be attending Mount Allison University this fall. She will be pursuing a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Biology. Aiken is a leader in all aspects of her life. As captain of the 2019 Canada Winter Games Female Hockey Team, captain of the Mount Academy Female Varsity Hockey Team and captain of the Mount’s field hockey team, she has also managed to obtain a 95.5% grade average. Showing her abilities in more than just ice-hockey, Aiken was invited to tour internationally with Team Canada’s field hockey squad. As busy as she is, Aiken manages to volunteer at the QEH and peer tutors in math and science.
Congratulations to the four recipients of the 2019 Sport PEI Scholarships and best of luck in your very bright futures!