Twelve students from across Canada were each awarded a $3,500 cash scholarship as recipients of the third annual RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for new Canadians.
“These 12 students, selected from more than eleven hundred applicants, were chosen for their outstanding academic achievement, commitment to community and defined personal goals,” said Camon Mak, director, RBC Multicultural Markets. “Through the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians, we hope to recognize and reward these talented new Canadians and also raise awareness of the significant contribution of all newcomers to Canada.”
RBC launched the scholarship program to recognize the important role new Canadians play in Canada’s cultural, social and economic development. The program is aimed at individuals who have been through the immigration experience, graduated high school or CEGEP, and are planning to pursue full-time studies at an accredited Canadian college or university this fall. Each winner is awarded a $3,500 cash scholarship.
Scholarships were awarded based on academic achievement, responses to three, 250-word essay questions about how immigration has shaped Canada, along with their personal experiences and advice to others going through similar experiences.
The winners of the award represent nationalities from 122 countries around the world including China, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Poland, Rwanda and Colombia. The recipients of the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians for 2009 are:

Ms. Chamila Anthonypillai, age 18 - Surrey, British Columbia
Mr. Aoyu Bai, age 18 - Kanata, Ontario
Mr. Chun Jun Cao, age 19 - Vancouver, British Columbia
Mr. Dennis Dobrovolsky, age 18 - Toronto, Ontario
Ms. Elzbieta Myrlak, age 18 - Edmonton, Alberta
Ms. Fuyuanyue Liu, age 17 - Thunder Bay, Ontario
Ms. Jennifer Zhou, age 18 - Richmond Hill, Ontario
Ms. Jian Peng (Angel) Qian, age 18 - Scarborough, Ontario
Ms. Margarita Palmera-Nunez, age 18 - St. John’s, Newfoundland
Ms. Maryna Muzychenko, age 18 - Edmonton, Alberta
Ms. Orietta Mukeza, age 18 - Ottawa, Ontario
Ms. Qing Qing Wu, age 18 - Edmonton, Alberta

Applicants for the scholarships must have been born outside of Canada, and be either permanent residents or citizens of Canada. They also must have achieved at least a 70 per cent average in their previous year of study.
For more information about the RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians, please visit: www.rbcroyalbank.com/scholarships/newcanadians.