New Westminster resident wins scholarship for leadership, community involvement

November 28, 2003

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Chelsea Weber knew she was cutting it close. She had saved some money from her summer job waitressing but it wasn't enough to cover her second year in the Stagecraft Program at Douglas College. Living in New Westminster, away from her hometown of Westbank in the Okanagan, she also had to find money for rent and food.

"I was kind of worried," she says. "I don't have time for a job with this program."

So when she heard that she was one of four Douglas College students to receive the new in-course awards from the Canadian Millennium Scholarship Foundation - worth $4,000 - she was "overjoyed."

The award, given to 830 students across Canada who combine strong academic record with community involvement, provided welcome financial relief to Weber and let her concentrate on her intensive program. "Some nights I've been at the shop until 10 p.m.," says Weber. "You really learn what goes into making a show work. We've all worked on shows at high school but here you learn what it's really like when you put on a show in a professional theatre."

Weber's strong record of volunteer work, and her leadership qualities, helped her win the award. In high school, Weber volunteered as a volleyball coach, an anti-drug abuse educator and a lighting consultant.

Last summer she volunteered as the Assistant Stage Manager for the Sunshine Theatre Company's production of Vigil in Kelowna. Ross Nichol, an instructor in the Stagecraft Program, was designing the set and asked her if she'd like to help out. She jumped at the opportunity. "I really like my hometown and I'd like to live there," says Weber. "It was great to have the opportunity to get to know people in the business there."

Weber plans to get her electrician's ticket after she finishes the program, but she's also interested in pursuing scenic painting. "I really like the hands-on part of the program," says Weber. "I've learned what I like and don't like to do. There aren't a lot of colleges where you get to paint for marks."

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