Owen Sound native Ashlyn Kuhl-Yorke thought the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant sounded a little too good to be true when she and her family first heard about it. It seemed hard to believe that you could get a free-ride through college for wanting to stay in the community you trained in.
But, she took a shot in the dark and applied. Now, she owes nothing to Georgian College in tuition fees through her four year nursing program.
"I was very, very happy," said Kuhl-Yorke. "Very grateful. It's such a huge relief, for anybody, to have their education and their tuition paid for."
Kuhl-Yorke said as soon as the family found out, it was reason for celebration.
Applying wasn't a hard decision at all for the 18-year-old. Owen Sound is her home and somewhere she always wanted to end up.
"I know a lot of students are excited to go to school in a new environment," she said. "I wasn't on that boat. I wanted to end up in Owen Sound anyway. I've always wanted to give back to our community as much as I can."
She cited the aging population in the city as an added bonus, giving her the opportunity to help her fellow Owen Sound residents.
"I think everybody who qualifies should apply if they're wanting to go into nursing programs," said Kuhl-Yorke. "Another misconception with the grant is you don't have to stay in Owen Sound specifically. It's an underserved community in Ontario. You get to graduate with no tuition debt if you complete your two years (of work) after. It's a great opportunity."
In order to apply, you must be a successful applicant and enrolled in your first year of an eligible program, which includes practical nursing, paramedic, or medical laboratory technology/medical laboratory science, be an Ontario resident, a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person, commit to working in the same region you studied in upon graduation, and not be receiving funding from the BEGIN initiative, Better Jobs Ontario, or the Skills Development Fund.
Applications and more information can be found here.
