Four students in the Columbia Basin who have shown perseverance and triumphed over adversity are the recipients of financial support to advance their educational aspirations. Jet Noble from Creston, Ti Loran from South Slocan, Emjai Deschamps from Revelstoke and Robert Tinney from Creston will each receive $2,500 from the Neil Muth Memorial Scholarship to support their studies.
The scholarship was established in 2017 to honour Neil Muth, Columbia Basin Trust’s President and Chief Executive Officer from 2005 through 2016, who passed away in November 2016. Neil valued and supported perseverance and continuous learning. He encouraged his children, staff and others to be curious, to seek their own path, and to never give up.
“The stories of resilience from these youth in the Basin are truly inspiring. It has been a challenging year to say the least, but we are grateful to be able to support the ambitions and educational journeys of Jet, Ti, Emjai and Robert,” said Cathy Muth, Neil’s wife. “We wish them well in the years ahead and on their career paths.”
The scholarship is awarded by the Muth family, administered by the Trust and made possible by the generous donations of family, friends, local governments and organizations.
Jet Noble – Creston
Increasing representation of women in the mechanical trades is a journey Jet Noble looks forward to being a part of. Her educational and career goals include obtaining a Red Seal certificate to become a mechanic and later pursuing mechanical engineering at the University of British Columbia.
“I’m excited to start this new chapter of my life (if not a little scared). I’m going into Selkirk College and my journey up to this point is thanks to the wonderful support from my school, friends and family. It’s nice to be able to look forward and see a clear path,” said Jet. “This is also thanks to the Muth family, as this scholarship will help me to work less and focus more on studying. I can’t wait to show the world what I’m capable of!”
Ti Loran – South Slocan
A rising basketball star, Ti Loran’s goals are to play professionally, or become a basketball coach or personal trainer after his post-secondary studies. His love of sport and commitment to basketball brought him to kinesiology studies at the University of British Columbia Okanagan, which he hopes will help him make a positive difference in the world.
“First off, I’d like to thank all the amazing people in my life that have helped me get as far as I have over the years. I’d also like to thank the family of Neil Muth and Columbia Basin Trust for this amazing opportunity that will help me pursue my passions in post-secondary and beyond,” said Ti. “With this scholarship, I can focus on my schooling and my passion to pursue basketball at the post-secondary level, which has been a dream of mine ever since I was young. I have so many things I want to accomplish after high school, and having this scholarship gets me one step closer to achieving those goals, so I am beyond thankful for this opportunity. I can’t wait to see what life after high school has in store for me.”
Emjai Deschamps – Revelstoke
Passionate about helping others by working in a supportive healthcare-related field, Emjai Deschamps would like to become a therapist when finished school. She plans to attend Thompson Rivers University in fall 2021 and major in psychology through a Bachelor of Arts degree.
“After going through challenges throughout the years and beginning to learn about mental health, I knew that I wanted to study psychology and start my own counselling business to help as many people who are struggling with their mental health as possible,” said Emjai. “I am extremely honoured to be a recipient for this scholarship, and it will help me greatly as I begin my university career. Thank you to the Muth family for this opportunity.”
Robert Tinney – Creston
For the last five years, Robert Tinney has been a member of 1746 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps, receiving awards and recognitions like the Lord Strathcona Medal, Top Silver Star and Distinguished Marksman. Robert now plans to attend Selkirk College to pursue his Red Seal as a heavy-duty mechanic to advance his burgeoning career within the Canadian Armed Forces.
“The last year and a half has proven to be very challenging for me. The 1746 Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps is a huge part of who I am, but due to the pandemic all Cadet functions were cancelled. The one activity that helped put structure into my life was taken from me and I lost contact with many friends and support systems. To add to all of this, both my parents fell extremely ill. This time forced me to seek other support within my school structure and counselling. I realized that, in order to persevere in life, I needed help and guidance,” said Robert. “The Neil Muth scholarship not only financially helps me, but has yet again shown that if I seek out support I will achieve much greater things than I would have on my own. It is okay to ask for help. I am excited to attend Selkirk College Heavy Mechanical Foundations course this fall.”
Columbia Basin Trust supports the ideas and efforts of the people in the Columbia Basin. To learn more about the Trust’s programs and initiatives, and how it helps deliver social, economic and environmental benefits to the Basin, visit ourtrust.org or call 1.800.505.8998.
