The Kitscoty RCMP recently handed out two $1,000 scholarships to local students.
The awards went to Cooper Saville of Marwayne Jubilee School and Sarah Leighton of Kitscoty Jr/Sr High School on May 5.
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Saville earned the fitness scholarship after winning a police fitness assessment (PFA) event. Leighton won the academic award.
The RCMP named the scholarships after Cadet Kevin Audet, who died during his RCMP training in 2019.
“I am happy his memory has allowed two promising students to receive a scholarship,” said Const. Daniel Brown.
Brown created the scholarship to honour Audet, a friend, as well as help local students.
“Kevin was our first course senior,” said Brown. “He was a natural leader.”
Audet had also served in the Canadian Armed Forces where he held fitness records and won top candidate and top shot awards.
“Kevin was known for his good grades,” said Brown. “He was a reliable source of help for written tests.”
The RCMP’s “K” Division fitness advisor, Kristin Como, ran the fitness assessment at Kitscoty Jr/Sr High School.
“The competition was extremely close,” said Brown. “One second difference between the first and second-place contestants.”
The Buffalo Trail Public School Division helped select the academic winner using Rutherford Scholarship guidelines.
More than 24 students applied for the two awards.
Brown said the project got strong support from local residents and businesses.
“The support we received was almost overwhelming,” he said. “I had to turn away offers to inflate the scholarship.”
Community partners donated the scholarship funds and ATB Financial hosted the scholarship account and donated. The County of Vermilion River also contributed.
Brown thanked many people, including school principals, bank staff, fitness staff, and photographers. He said the awards will not return next year.
“This will be a one-time, non-recurring memorial event,” said Brown, encouraging students to look into local scholarships.
“Our community is full of giving people and businesses who truly want you, the students, to succeed,” he said.
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