North Battleford Comprehensive High School student Ahmed Ali has earned a $1,000 RBC bursary at graduation to help him pursue engineering at the University of Saskatchewan in the fall.
According to an RBC press release, the bursary program celebrates graduating high school students who are inspirational in their dedication to community, fellow students and academics.
“Ahmed is not only able to balance school, work, athletics and volunteer work, but as a new Canadian, he also thrives in his new environment, as he is originally from Pakistan,” the release states.
“He quickly embraced the country and rose up to the challenges of living in a new culture, facing new hardships and establishing himself in a new environment.”
Ahmed earned an 84 per cent average in high school and has been on the honour roll for the past two years. He is an International Baccalaureate student with a goal to become a mechanical engineer. He speaks fluent Urdu and flawless English, and works diligently to keep up with his studies, the release states.
Ahmed has been on the NBCHS badminton team for five years. When he is not working or at school, he is on the court. He plays year round and has joined several local badminton clubs to hone his skills and meet others with similar interests. Before classes, he is up early to take advantage of an empty school gym and get a few games in. He also played in the Saskatchewan Winter Games hosted in the Battlefords this year. His coach speaks of his high morale, his constant encouragement to others, his willingness to offer advice and support and his dedication to the sport.
Ahmed has been helping with the school yearbook for two years, assisting with NBCHS’s annual food drives, working at the school clothing store during noon hours, participating in the city parade and holding down two part-time jobs.
“Thank you very much for choosing me for the 2018 RBC Award,” Ahmed said in response to the news of the award.
“I sincerely appreciate your investment into my future and this will for sure be used for my studies next year.”
