A Red Deer student has won big in the scholarship world thanks to his soaring high school grade point average.
Deepan Hazra, a recent graduate of Hunting Hills High School, was recently awarded a President’s Citation Scholarship from the University of Alberta, worth $25,000 over four years.
“I was very excited when I got the notification I’d won this, when it showed up on the website in late August,” Hazra said. “It was surreal because I didn’t really expect it. It took me by surprise.”
Hazra, 18, didn’t even know he’d been nominated.
He plans to go into medicine and began his general bachelor of science degree this fall.
“The medical community in Alberta has done a lot for me. I’ve had positive experiences ... I want to give back,” he said. “My inspiration to get into medical school comes from my parents and the people around me. My parents have continually supported me and instilled a very strong work ethic in me.”
The scholarship is one of the Edmonton-based school’s top awards, offered to outstanding students beginning their first undergraduate degrees and who had a minimum average of 95 per cent throughout high school.
It’s also a part of the school’s scholarship distinction program, which has handed out 76 awards with a total value of $950,000 this year. The program complements a broader scholarship package offered from the Students Awards Office worth more than $25 million annually.
Hazra and fellow top students, professors and staff were honoured recently at the University of Alberta’s annual Celebrate! Teaching, Learning and Research awards ceremony.
“I really appreciate this and so do my family. It’s certainly made my first year at university easier to handle in terms of finances,” Hazra said.
rfrancoeur@www.reddeeradvocate.com