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St. Patrick High School student beats 5,159 others to win $100,000 award

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Adithi Balaji, a student at Ecole St. Patrick High School has been chosen as a Loran Scholar and will receive a $100,000 scholarship for undergraduate studies. Blair McBride/NNSL photo

Adithi Balaji has been selected as a Loran Scholar and awarded $100,000 toward her undergraduate studies.

“(I'm in) disbelief! I'm so shocked I got it,” the Ecole St. Patrick High School student told Yellowknifer on Wednesday.

The Grade 12 student is among 36 recipients across Canada to win the award, said Danielle Sanders, Loran Scholars Foundation spokesperson. A total of 5,194 students applied for the Loran Award this year.

Adithi Balaji of Ecole St. Patrick High School has won a $100,000 scholarship from the Loran Scholars Foundation. She hopes to attend the University of Victoria to study oceanography. Blair McBride/NNSL photo

Adithi, 17, went to Toronto Jan. 31 to Feb. 1 for the final selection process while she was on the shortlist of 88 candidates.

The foundation phoned her on Feb. 2 to inform her that she had won.

In addition to being a strong student academically, Adithi stood out for her volunteer work and involvement in environmental and community initiatives.

She had told Yellowknifer in January that she wanted to attend the University of British Columbia to study oceanography but has since switched her first preference to the University of Victoria.

“I think - coming from Yellowknife – Vancouver might be too much of a jump for me now,” she said with a laugh. “The campus itself is two times the size of Yellowknife, just the students! That might be a little too much for me.”

Her long-term goal is to work in conservation efforts.

Adithi joins three other Yellowknifers as Loran Scholars. Emma Willoboughy from Sir John Franklin High School received a scholarship last year, Justina Marianayagam was a recipient in 2014 and Tyler Heal won in 2009.