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I Reding grad eams~ rare scholarship By Stephanie Hounsell CANADIAN CHAMPION STAFF When Julia Riddell found out she'd won a $20,000 scholar- ship, she felt a huge burden lifted Julia Riddell from her shoulders since she no longer had to worry about how to pay for uni- versity "It's such a great relief," said the Bishop Reding graduate. Riddell, 18, is the recent recipient of a 2007 Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation Excellence Award. She found herself competing against almost 10,000 applicants for one of 100 national awards and is among just 39 Ontario recipients. The award recognizes university and college-bound students for their achievements in leadership, innova- tion, academic performance and com- munity service. Riddell will receive $5,000, which is renewable up to three times as long as she continues to meet the criteria. "An investment in the education of these outstanding citizens is an invest- ment in the future of our society," said Norman Riddell (no relation), execu- tive director and CEO of the Canada Millennium Scholarship Foundation. "These individuals have already demonstrated their ability to change the world around them - they know how to make a difference." Created by the federal government, the foundation provides a range of bur- saries, awards and scholarships to improve access to Canadian post-sec- ondary education. Strong community service It was Riddell's commitment to com- munity service that helped ber stand out from the other applicants. She works with an organization that helps at-risk youth called InnerEdge in Waterdown. The clients she works with face many serious issues including depres- sion, antisocial personality disorder and substance-abusing parents. Riddell has come full circle, since she was first introduced to the organi- zation a a client. "It changed my whole life," she said emphatically. "I can't say enough about the program." Riddell said shes fortunate to be able to give back to InnerEdge, working with youths on a one-to-one basis. In addition to her work with InnerEdge, Riddell has shown herself to be a true leader through her involve- ment at school. She served as vice-pres- ident of her school counicil and has been active on numerous committees. In September, Riddell will be attend- ing McMaster University, where shes taking general science; she later hopes to get into neuro-science. Specifically, she wants to help foster a better under- standing of mood disorders including bi-polar and schizophrenia. Stephanie Hounsell can be reached at hhesn nocnainhapoxm.- The Canadian Champion, Friday, July 20, 2007 - Ai 5 MID4SUMMER' illow wheels. captain rs - I ,OMOOkms. a