Dear Members,
NWT Tourism is happy to announce the recipients of the NWT Tourism and Rio Tinto 2025 scholarships.
- Recipient of the Rio Tinto Indigenous Student Scholarship: Sommer Wiley
Sommer is a Sahtu beneficiary who grew up in Norman Wells and is now entering her final year in the Professional Pilot Program at Centennial Flight Centre near Edmonton, AB. Over the past two years, she has earned her Private Pilot License, Night Rating, and is close to finishing her Commercial Pilot License. Within the next year, she plans to complete her Multi-Engine and Instrument ratings before returning to Norman Wells to begin her career as a bush pilot. She hopes to fly hunters, visitors, and community members around the Sahtu, sharing the beauty of the Northwest Territories, before eventually moving on to larger aircraft with the airlines.
- Recipient of the NWT Tourism Scholarship (AME/Pilot Training): Alijah Genrev Famorcan
Alijah is a proud Northerner from Hay River who is currently studying in the Associate of Arts in Mission Aviation program at Prairie College in Alberta. Inspired by the bravery of pilots who helped during the recent wildfire evacuations, he is working toward becoming a licensed pilot. His goal is to return to the Northwest Territories to serve remote communities, support tourism, and strengthen connections across the North through aviation. Alongside his studies, Alijah is an active volunteer, athlete, and youth leader, and he hopes to use both his aviation skills and community experience to make a lasting impact in his home territory.
- Recipient of the NWT Tourism Scholarship: Matthew Rollison
Matthew has been a resident of Hay River for 30 years and is pursuing his dream of becoming a commercial pilot after many years as an owner-operator in the trucking industry. He first earned his Private Pilot License in 2003, and after renewing his training in 2018, he has since completed his commercial ground school and passed the Transport Canada written exam. With over 600 flight hours, Matthew is now preparing for his commercial flight test and plans to continue with multi-engine and IFR training. Once licensed, he plans to begin his aviation career with Landa Aviation in Hay River, serving the tourism businesses in the region and continue contributing to his community in the North.
Background
Northwest Territories Tourism is pleased to encourage the pursuit of excellence in the Tourism Industry in the Northwest Territories by offering annual NWT Tourism Scholarship awards.
Since 2014 NWT Tourism has been offering annual scholarships to NWT students pursuing post-secondary studies in hospitality and tourism. This is the eleventh year that NWT Tourism has offered scholarships. This is the third year we are including Pilot and Aircraft Mechanical Engineer (AME) training as criteria for our scholarships. Also, this is the fifth year we have partnered with Rio Tinto in awarding the Rio Tinto Indigenous Student Tourism Scholarship.
On behalf of NWT Tourism, we congratulate this year's recipients of the NWTT & Rio Tinto scholarships and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours.
Join us for the 2025 NWT Tourism AGM & Conference, November 4-6 in Inuvik. Take advantage of early bird rates and register now!
All the best,
Donna Lee Demarcke
Chief Executive Officer
NWT Tourism