At Northern Birch Credit Union, we are pleased to support our student members through scholarship opportunities each year. Our Community Roots Scholarship celebrates community involvement and inspires youth to stay connected to their roots while giving back to the organizations around them.
This year, 15 scholarships were awarded to an exceptional group of students who have demonstrated active engagement and dedication to their local communities.
Elizabete is a second-year student in the Concurrent Education program at Brock University. She has been connected to her Latvian roots throughout her life, attending Latvian school in Hamilton and later assisting with classes and dance after graduation. Elizabete is also involved with the Girl Guides in Hamilton and is skilled at playing the traditional Latvian instrument, the kokli. Additionally, she has participated in the Latvian folk-dance group, Vainadziņš, traveling with them to Latvian Song and Dance Festivals over the years.
Johanna Kiik is a second-year student at the University of Toronto, studying Cell and Molecular Biology, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, and English. With both parents of Estonian heritage, she has been active in the Estonian community since childhood. Johanna has worked as a music teacher at Toronto Estonian Kindergarten, a counselor and lifeguard at Seedrioru, and a kindergarten teacher at Hamilton Estonian School. Currently, she teaches the “mudilaste” (toddler) class at Toronto Estonian Kindergarten.
Felix Tamm is a second-year urban planning student at Concordia University in Montreal. He has been actively involved in Estonian Scouts, the weekly Estonian supplementary school, and Estonian camp throughout his life. Staying connected to his roots, Felix volunteers as a Scout leader at the annual camp and has dedicated time to working with children at the Estonian kindergarten.
Katrina is in her third year of the Life Sciences program at Queen's University. She has been involved with the Estonian volleyball community for a long time, with fond childhood memories of summers at Jõekääru Kalev Volleyball Camp and volunteering at their fundraisers at Tartu College. In her spare time, Katrina is a competitive equestrian, takes part in extracurricular clubs at Queen's, and enjoys staying active through outdoor activities like running, hiking, and biking.
Stephen Jenkins is in his second year of the Management and Organizational Studies program at Western University. Stephen has been involved in the Estonian community from a young age as a camper and later counsellor at Jõekääru and Kotkajärve summer camps, as a student at the Toronto Estonian School, and a Scout with the Estonian Boy Scouts. Stephen has also joined the Estonian fraternity Korp! Rotalia, in Toronto.
Teija Hogg is a first-year student in Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Guelph. Teija has been engaged in Toronto’s Estonian community throughout her life. Since childhood she has participated in Girl Guides and has attended both Estonian summer and volleyball camps. She has become a dedicated club volleyball player, devoting much of her spare time to the sport.
Joona is in his second year of the Civil Engineering program at the University of Toronto. He has been involved with the Estonian community in Toronto since moving to Toronto 7 years ago, including Boy Scouts, winter camps in Kotkajärve, and volunteering at events like Latitude 44 and Estonian Music Week. Joona is also a member of the Estonian fraternity, Rotalia, in Toronto.
Monika Siim is a first-year student at York University in Toronto, currently studying Film. She has been connected to the Estonian community from a young age, singing in choirs and dancing. She recently taught at the Chicago Estonian House’s language immersion summer camp, and she currently works in the archives at the Estonian Museum of Canada, helping preserve historical memory by digitizing photo collections. She enjoys organizing events and staying connected to her community.
Kalle is currently in his final year at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, completing an Honours Bachelor of Commerce degree, specializing in Marketing. His Estonian heritage has been a significant part of his life - he attended Estonian school, was an active member of the Estonian Boy Scouts, and attended both Jõekääru and Kalev Volleyball summer camps, where he subsequently worked as a counselor for two summers. Kalle is also a member of St. Peter’s Estonian Evangelical Church.
Natalie is a first-year MSc student in Digital Policy at University College Dublin. She has been active in Toronto's Estonian community through Girl Guides and the Estonian school and spent her summers at Jõekääru and Kotkajärve summer camps. Currently, she works at Eesti Elu/Estonian Life newspaper, writing articles and connecting with young Estonians through her interview series, “Community Unwrapped”. She also teaches journalism workshops at the Toronto and Hamilton Estonian schools. In her spare time, Natalie enjoys making music.
Oliver is currently in his second year at the University of Western Ontario, in the Bachelor of Management and Organizational Studies program. He has remained involved in the Estonian community throughout his life, including attending the 2014 Estonian Song Festival with the Toronto Estonian Choir. He is an avid volleyball player, currently playing on the UWO men’s volleyball team.
Eva Nearchou is a first-year student in the Pre-Health Science program at Sheridan College. She has been involved in Toronto's Estonian community since childhood, attending the Jõekääru and Kotkajärve summer camps, participating in Estonian Girl Guides, and attending Estonian school. She recently traveled to Estonia with her grandmother to further embrace her culture and heritage.
Miks is in his first year of Mechanical Engineering at Toronto Metropolitan University. He was born in Riga, Latvia and moved to Canada with his family in 2009. Miks attended the Toronto Latvian Saturday School from kindergarten age and has continued to remain involved there after graduating, working as a teacher's assistant.
Emma Nipernado is in her first year of the Economics and Finance program at the University of Guelph. She has been involved with the Toronto Estonian community for her whole life, following in her parents’ footsteps. She has participated in the Estonian Girl Guides, attended Estonian school in Toronto, and worked as a camp counsellor at Jõekääru Estonian children's summer camp. During her free time, she enjoys playing sports and reading.
Alek Kness is in his first year of the Commerce Program at McMaster University. Alek has been involved in the Latvian community throughout his life, attending Saulaine Latvian camp during his childhood and graduating from the Latvian Summer High School (Garezers Vasaras Vidusskola) in the USA. He is an avid volleyball player, participating in tournaments at Sidrabene and Garezers. After graduating from the Toronto Latvian Saturday School (TLBSS), Alek returned to teach kindergarten class for a number of years.
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