And the winner of the Amazing Travel Scholarship is — Ellie Hewat of J.V. Humphries in Kaslo
By Bruce Fuhr
Like any contest, Ellie Hewat probably entered with an open mind wondering if possibly her ship just might come in.
That anticipation that something was up grew when the folks at S-Trip! connected with the J.V. Humphries High School student via Skype.
S-Trip! rep Lauren then started the conversation to Ellie with the question:
“What would it mean to you if you won the Amazing Travel Scholarship?”
Ellie responded, “It would be so amazing . . . I can’t even express it . . ..”
Then came the “good news” as Lauren said, while at the same time a handful of S-Trip! staffers jumped in front of the computer screen with a sign signifying Ellie’s win and tossing confetti.
Hewat joins Saad Khan as the two winners in the 2014 Amazing Travel Scholarship.
“When I heard that I won the scholarship I was quite astonished,” 17-year-old Kaslo native told The Nelson Daily.
“After it all sank in a bit I was very excited and amazed, I almost couldn’t believe it.”
“I’m so thankful to have been chosen for this scholarship and for all the people who supported me along the way,” she adds.
By winning the top prize Hewat receives:
- a one-year tuition scholarship to pay for post-secondary school tuition & books, up to $7,000
- a paid summer internship with accommodation at S-Trip! Headquarters in Toronto, right in the heart of downtown on Queen St. West
- a free, 7-night, all-inclusive trip for you and 3 friends on S-Trip, with a photo & video shoot on-destination
- The Ultimate Traveller Swag Bag, with prizes from Westbeach, VerveGirl, S-Trip, and more
S-Trip!, one of North America’s leading student travel company, believes travel is travel is an amazing way to learn new things, experience new cultures and expand horizons.
Hewat, who found the scholarship online, heard about S-Trip! through the trip they were organizing in the Kootenays.
The daughter of Heather and Rick Hewat of Kaslo then entered the contest by sharing a selfie video demonstrating and why she deserved to win the Amazing Travel Scholarship.
After answering questions about her travel dreams, Hewat then worked the social media to rally support of her cause.
“I entered the Amazing Travel Scholarship because it was unlike any I had found,” Hewat, who plans on attending Queens University in Kingston, Ontario in the fall to study engineering, explained.
“It gave me a very unique chance to share my passion for travel and give me an opportunity to go travelling myself.’’
While Hewat is the big winner in this contest, she realizes the grand prize would not have been achieve without the support of friends and family.
“I’d really like to thank my family, particularly my sister, Tasha, for all their help and support with this contest,” Hewat said.
“I’d like to thank all my amazing supporters, without their help I wouldn’t have won. I had many people that went out of their way to share their travelling experiences with me along with an overwhelming support from people on social media . . .. I greatly appreciate all of it.”
“Lastly I’d like the thank S-Trip! for this incredible opportunity,” she added.
Part of the grand prize is a summer internship at the S-Trip! head office in downtown Toronto. Details are forthcoming.
Hewat, born in Vancouver and raised in Kaslo, has until the end of 2015 to take the trip part of the prize.
And who gets to go along for the ride.
That was an easy decision for Hewat.
“My sister, Tasha, will be coming with me on the trip,” Hewat said. “She helped me so much in the finalist round and she’s always supporting me.”
Not a bad way to start graduation celebrations for J.V. Humphries Grade 12 student Ellie Hewat.
Hopefully the theme at the Kaslo based high school has something to do with water . . . and ships.
