By Marlene Moore

Union Gas and the Northern Ontario Business Awards are once again presenting their annual essay scholarship competition. The theme is Leadership & Volunteerism: The Fabric of Our Communities.

The student who submits the winning 2,500-word essay will win a $3,000 scholarship. To be eligible, students must be registered for post-secondary education in 2005 and currently attend a high school in Northern Ontario.

Essays may be submitted in either English or French.

Last year's scholarship recipient was Erik Van Beek, a resident of St. Charles, east of Sudbury.

His composition, entitled, Anyone can make a difference, earned the Lockerby Composite School graduate $3,000 toward his post-secondary education.

Last fall, Van Beek entered the history program at Laurentian University, where he is currently studying history, classical studies and philosophy, as well as ethics in sports.
According to Erik's mother Lynne, her son initially contemplated pursuing a career in law, but earning the 2004 Union Gas/NOBA scholarship may have changed that goal. "Erik was quite intrigued by the experience of attending the business excellence awards gala last October," she said. "He had the unique opportunity to speak with young and established entrepreneurs." Erik is very motivated to apply what he is studying at university to a future entrepreneurial endeavour of his own.

The 2005 scholarship winner will also earn a trip to the 19th Annual Northern Ontario Business Awards Dinner, to be held in Sudbury, Oct. 6.

This is the 17th year that Union Gas has sponsored the post-secondary school scholarship. During that time, over $40,000 has been awarded to northern youth.
"We've sponsored the essay contest for almost two decades," said Doug French, Union Gas operations manager for northeast Ontario.

"We're glad to be part of the community, and to lend a hand as students explore the business world while expressing pride in Northern Ontario."

Northern Ontario Business is very pleased to administer the Union Gas essay competition.