Media

MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic Promote Diversity with Annual Scholarships

Photos at: http://www.muchmoremusic.com/media/

(TORONTO - January 31st, 2007) – Building on its commitment to encourage diversity in broadcasting, MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic are pleased to honour two outstanding broadcast students in their annual scholarship awards. Calgary’s Candace Backfat and Toronto’s Andre Garber are the respective winners of the 2006 MuchMusic Aboriginal Youth Scholarship and the 2006 MuchMoreMusic AccessAbility Scholarship. Both awards go to applicants training for a future in the broadcast industry who best demonstrate skill, talent, excellence and enthusiasm. Since 2004, MuchMusic and MuchMoreMusic have awarded $31,000 to support broadcast students from traditionally under-represented groups.

“It is a sincere pleasure to honour these smart, talented students with our annual scholarships,” says David Kines, Vice President, Music and Youth Services, CHUM Television. “We can surely expect great things from Candace and Andre when they graduate and enter the broadcast industry.”

Established in 2004, the MuchMusic Aboriginal Youth Scholarship is presented in partnership with the Aboriginal Youth Network (AYN), and awards $5,000 (CDN) to the winning Aboriginal student. This year’s award goes to SAIT Polytechnic Broadcast Technology student Candace Backfat.

“I always knew that I was meant to speak up for my Native People,” said Backfat in her application. “My goal now is to become a talk show host advocating Aboriginal issues.”

Backfat counts among her many achievements volunteering for the Urban Society for Aboriginal Youth (USAY), freelance writing for USAY’s New Tribe Magazine, serving as Youth Worker for Siksika Park and Recreation, and has been identified by her community as part of the Alberta Future Leaders Program.

Now in its second year, the MuchMoreMusic AccessAbility Scholarship, presented in partnership with the National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS), awards $5,000 (CDN) to a broadcast student with a permanent disability. This year’s award goes to Ryerson University Radio and Television Arts student Andre Garber.

“I could have given up and surrendered to inevitable doubts about my abilities,” said Garber in his application. “Instead, my journey has strengthened my determination to succeed and to follow my passions. It has also confirmed my commitment to contributing to the community and the life of others in need.”

Among his many accomplishments are fundraising for Free the Children and OneChild, co-founding the not-for-profit Youth for Youth Literacy, volunteering for the Mother Theresa Institute in India, and mentoring special-needs students at Northern Secondary School.

Applications for the 2007 MuchMusic Aboriginal Youth Scholarship will be available as of March 1 on muchmusic.com, and will be accepted until November 30, 2007.

Applications for the 2007 MuchMoreMusic AccessAbility Scholarship will be available as of March 1 on muchmoremusic.com, and will be accepted until November 1, 2007.

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Media contact:
Scott Campbell
Senior Publicist, Music & Youth Services, CHUM Television
(416) 591-7400 x2794
scott.campbell@muchmusic.com

For more information on next year’s scholarships, interested students should contact:
Jenna Wong
Manager, Public Relations, Music & Youth Services, CHUM Television
(416) 591-7400 x2798
jennaw@muchmoremusic.com

For AYN, contact:
Kim Ghostkeeper
Director of Health Promotions & Marketing, AYN
(780) 458-4401 x403
kim-ghostkeeper@nechi.com

For NEADS, contact:
Frank Smith
National Coordinator, NEADS
(613) 526-8008
info@neads.ca




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