Jill Dobbin awarded scholarship
Jill Dobbin, a Grade 12 Kindersley Composite School (KCS) student, has been awarded the Carleton Chancellor’s Scholarship. Jill won this scholarship, which provides 100% of Jill’s tuition at Carleton University in Ottawa for her entire undergraduate degree because of her high academic average, outstanding school and community leadership record, and many volunteer activities.
A few highlights of Jill’s record of achievement as a leader and volunteer include being part of Experiences Canada, where she participated and led many activities in such areas as 2SLGBTQ+, reconciliation, mental health, Islamophobia, racism and environmental issues. Jill served on the Experiences Canada Advisory Council, “Be the Program” Cohort and attended the Youth Forum of Allyship.
Jill was also a very active member of Rotary District 5360, where she served on a Convention Planning Committee and was Communications Director for a year. She held a wide range of organizational roles in these and other capacities with Rotary District 5360.
Since 2016, Jill has been part of her school’s Student Leadership Team (SLT) and is currently the Co-President, and since 2018 she has been part of the Sun West School Division Student Leadership Program. In these capacities, she has helped organize and lead many school events and fundraisers and has been part of the group of students that gather student views and present them to the Sun West Board of Education on an annual basis.
Jill has been a volunteer with the Kindersley and District Special Olympics since 2016, where among other things, she was a Track and Field and Bowling Head Coach and Team Manager. In 2021 she was recognized as the Special Olympics Saskatchewan Junior Coach of the Year, and she has also coached Grades 7-8 Girls Basketball at Elizabeth Middle School in Kindersley. She also is a basketball referee at KCS and Elizabeth Middle School.
Even while involved in so many volunteer and extracurricular activities, Jill has worked as a Lunchroom worker at KCS, a babysitter and a nanny and has given private saxophone and flute lessons.
Jill has won numerous academic and leadership awards throughout her student career. These include the Vimy Pilgrimage Award, which was a national award that included a trip to Ottawa; the Susan Thilbert Memorial Award, which recognized academic achievement, extracurricular and community involvement and character; the KCS School Community Council Leadership Award, as well as academic awards in every grade since Grade 5.
At Carleton University, Jill be working towards an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Criminology and Criminal Justice with a concentration in Psychology. After completing this degree, Jill will decide whether to apply to Law School or Medical School. If she chooses to be a lawyer, she intends to become a social justice lawyer or prosecutor. If she decides on the medical route, she wants to become a child and adolescent psychiatrist.
“This opportunity,” stated Jill, “would not be possible without all the skills I have learned over my five years as a part of the Sun West Student Leadership Program and seven years of coaching Special Olympics athletes that have taught me the value of leadership, hard work and acceptance.”
Look out Ottawa! Jill is coming your way!