Two SAIT students win Pattison Broadcast Equity Scholarships

(January 2019) – Two students from SAIT Polytechnic in Calgary are the 2018 recipients of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group Prairie Equity Scholarships.

Alyssa Stoyanowski is a first-year student at SAIT, with a particular interest in small-market radio. Growing up in High Level, Alberta, Alyssa interned at a radio station in Peace River.

It was only after high school that Alyssa discovered that she suffered from Severe Auditory Processing Disorder, a hearing problem that interferes with the way the brain recognizes and interprets sounds. Finding out about her APD has helped Alyssa understand earlier struggles in school. Despite those challenges, Alyssa maintained good marks, was active in student government, helped with a number of charitable causes and was a competitive swimmer, coach and lifeguard.

As an educator who has worked with her noted, “I consider her to be a great role model for others, as she embraces challenges with a positive attitude and faces hardships head-on with determination and purpose.”

And as Alyssa herself says, “All of these experiences have, and will continue to benefit me in the future at SAIT, and in any career I choose.”

The second scholarship winner is Amanda Vocke. Mandy is a second year Broadcast News student at SAIT who has also completed her classes for a Communications degree from the University of Calgary.

Amanda is of German/Filipino ancestry, and her mother’s family was one of the first Filipino families in Saskatchewan. She feels that her mixed-race background gives her some advantages…“as someone who is both white and Asian, I feel like I have the ability to bridge the gap between people of different races. Being a minority isn’t something that needs to hold people back, it’s a special part of who they are.”

Her teachers at SAIT describe her as “a role model”, “superior” and “a pleasure to work with”. She also volunteers for the Best Buddies—an organization that creates opportunities for individuals with learning and/or physical disabilities—and is a member of SAIT’s Cross Country team.

Amanda’s goal is to be a reporter…“I believe that my background and upbringing gives me a unique perspective that will positively represent Canadians, including minorities.”

The Equity Scholarship was instituted in 2009 to address the shortage of broadcasters from four under-represented groups; Aboriginal Peoples, Persons with Disabilities, Members of Visible Minorities, and Women. The Jim Pattison Broadcast Group believes that by supporting the career development of these groups in broadcasting on the Prairies, the industry will access an untapped pool of potentially talented employees, encourage diverse viewpoints and backgrounds, enhance relationships with local communities, and broaden the advertiser and audience base.

Alyssa Stoyanowski and Amanda Vocke have each received $2000 to assist them in pursuing their education and career goals.

The scholarship initiative is supported by the following stations of the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group:

101.5 KOOL FM, Calgary

Wild 95.3 FM, Calgary

Big West Country 92.9 FM, Drayton Valley 102.3 NOW! radio, Edmonton

Up! 99.3 FM, Edmonton

Big Country 93.1 FM, Grande Prairie

Q99 FM, Grande Prairie

Country 95.5 FM, Lethbridge

B-93.3 FM, Lethbridge

102.3 FM CJNS FM, Meadow Lake

CHAT 94.5 FM, Medicine Hat

CHAT Television, Medicine Hat

MY96 FM, Medicine Hat

Q98 FM, North Battleford

Saskatchewan Country CJNB, North Battleford 93.3 The Rock FM, North Battleford

XFM, Prince Albert

Saskatchewan Country CKBI, Prince Albert Power 99 FM, Prince Albert

BIG 105.5 FM, Red Deer

106.7 The Drive FM, Red Deer

B94 FM, Rocky Mountain House

QX 104, Winnipeg

94-3 The Drive, Winnipeg

For more information contact Dave Sherwood, Scholarship Committee Chair, Jim Pattison Broadcast Group at (403) 548-8246 or [email protected].