Meet the Diamonds Do Good Scholarship Winners

In partnership with the Mine Training Society, the scholarships support students in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

Lenore Fedow lenore.fedow@nationaljeweler.com

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Trisha Ngo is a past recipient of a Diamonds Do Good scholarship, given to students in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Five new winners were chosen this year.

Northwest Territories, Canada—Diamonds Do Good has awarded scholarships to five students in Canada’s Northwest Territories as it looks to promote post-secondary education within the community.

The nonprofit organization’s focus is supporting and empowering those in diamond mining communities.

In 2019, it teamed up with the Mine Training Society, a group that connects Northwest Territory citizens with mining career opportunities, to create a scholarship program.

The $5,000 scholarships go toward youth in the region looking to pursue trade training or post-secondary education in business, management, STEM, health care, or mental health fields.

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“We are supported by the natural diamond industry to give back to the very areas where natural diamonds are found. We are thrilled to have identified young scholarship recipients who exemplify our mission,” said Nancy Orem Lyman, executive director of Diamonds Do Good, in a press release about the scholarship winners.

Here are this year’s winners.

Devin Catholique, 19, of Lutsel K’e is enrolled in a Heavy Equipment Operator training program with Aurora College. A Lutsel K’e Dene First Nation member, he hopes to start a career in the area’s diamond mining industry when he graduates.

Lindsey Mailloux, 21, of Yellowknife is a third-year nursing student at Aurora College, aiming to become a nurse practitioner. She would like to work as a nurse in northern communities, mine sites and correctional complexes.

Trevor Marlow, 30, of Lutsel K’e is enrolled at the University of Lethbridge in their Computer Science, Bachelor of Science program. After graduation, he would like to provide training and seminars to local community members in Lutsel K’e in the hopes of opening new career options to them.

Nancy Ngo, 24, of Yellowknife recently received a Bachelor of Science Degree with a specialization in Earth Sciences and a minor in Canadian and Indigenous Studies at Carleton University. She is currently enrolled in Queen’s University’s Certificate in Mining Technologies Program. She was approved as a member of the Northwest Territories and Nunavut Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists (NAPEG) as a geologist in training. Her long-term goal is to achieve professional designation as a professional geoscientist and help to improve the North and the northern economy.

Courtney Vital, 28, of Deline is a graduate of the Bachelor of Child Studies program with a major in early learning and childcare from Mount Royal University. She has been accepted into the Addictions Counselling program at the University of Lethbridge and plans to use her education and training to establish a cultural healing camp in Deline and improve the health of the community.

Diamonds Do Good recently partnered with United People Global, which runs sustainability leadership training, on a $100,000 grant program to provide financial support and business expertise to promising entrepreneurs.

For more information, visit the Diamonds Do Good website.