Giving Them Wings
DRH supports three students with 2021 scholarships.
Cydney Nahanni-Kwasney, a five-time recipient of Dehcho Regional Helicopters’ Aviation Support Services Scholarship, wants to use her Bachelor of Commerce to manage the finances of a northern airline charter company. Photo courtesy of Cydney Nahanni-Kwasney.
Liidlii Kue/Fort Simpson - Dehcho Regional Helicopters is assisting three students from Fort Simpson in pursuing their educational goals.
The recipients of the company’s 2021 scholarships are Cydney Nahanni-Kwasney, Michael James Modeste and SaNaeah Allen. Dehcho Regional Helicopters (DRH) and its Limited Partners are committed to increasing Indigenous participation and leadership in the aviation industry. Thanks to a partnership agreement with Air Tindi, a percentage of the net profit on all scheduled flights between Yellowknife and Fort Simpson funds the scholarships.
“Being able to offer scholarships is something that Dehcho Regional Helicopters’ and its board takes great pride in and we are excited to be supporting the dreams of three students this year,” said Liza McPherson, the company’s president.
The company’s board members were particularly pleased to be able to award the $30,000 Fixed-Wing and Helicopter Pilot Scholarship to Allen. This is only the second time the scholarship has been awarded. Allen joined the first recipient, Loyal Letcher Jr., at the Diploma in Aviation Management program at the Sub-Arctic Leadership Training (SALT) College in Fort Smith.
“The scholarship means a lot in the way that I won’t have to worry about money for my schooling,” Allen said in an email.
Michael Modeste, a four-time recipient of Dehcho Regional Helicopters’ Aviation Support Services Scholarship, is looking forward to applying the skills he learned in his MBA in Fort Simpson. Photo courtesy of Michael Modeste.
“It also allows me to focus on my courses and obtaining my dream of becoming a pilot in the North. In other words, the scholarship is a really big help.”
Nahanni-Kwasney and Modeste each received the $1,500 Aviation Support Services Scholarship. DRH has supported Nahanni-Kwasney throughout her post-secondary education. This is the fifth time she has received the scholarship. Nahanni-Kwasney is in her final year at the University of Calgary where she is in the Haskayne School of Business completing a Bachelor of Commerce degree with a major in general finance and a focus on accounting and tourism.
“Thanks to the support from Dehcho Regional Helicopters I am one step closer to completing my degree and career goals,” she said in an email.
Nahanni-Kwasney would like to return to return to Fort Simpson and manage the finances of an air charter company. To further that goal, she is also pursuing a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.
Modeste, who received the scholarship for a fourth year, is finishing a MBA at Athabasca University’s Faculty of Business. He is looking forward to brining his management education and skill set to Fort Simpson after graduation.
June 30 is the yearly deadline to apply for DRH’ scholarships.
SaNaeah Allen is only the second recipient of Dehcho Regional Helicopters’ $30,000 Fixed-Wing and Helicopter Pilot Scholarship. He is enrolled in the Diploma in Aviation Management program at the Sub-Arctic Leadership Training (SALT) College in Fort Smith. Photo courtesy of SaNaeah Allen.