FORT McMURRAY, Alberta— Two university students from Fort McMurray have been awarded the 2024 Finning Canada STEM Awards through Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta. Agametochi Okoro and Hannah Nolan each received a $3,500 scholarship to support their careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The Finning Canada STEM Awards aim to break down gender and financial barriers for girls interested in pursuing studies in STEM fields. Kim Carlson, Vice President of People and Culture for Finning Canada, expressed excitement for Okoro and Nolan’s futures. “Agametochi Okoro and Hannah Nolan are incredible role models for youth in the Wood Buffalo Region, and they are well deserving of these scholarships,” Carlson said.

Okoro, originally from Fort McMurray, is a first-year Mechatronics Engineering student at the University of Waterloo. She credited a STEM program run by Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta with sparking her interest in engineering and robotics, inspiring her to get involved in STEM-related activities in her school and community.

Nolan, a Métis student in her second year of Chemical Engineering at the University of Alberta, hopes to return to Fort McMurray for experience in the oil field before pursuing a postgraduate degree in physics. “I always knew I wanted to do something related to physics,” Nolan said. “Going into a male-dominated field can be intimidating, but I met a great group of girls, and they’re my support system.”

Girls Inc. of Northern Alberta, founded in 1979, aims to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Since its inception, the organization has positively impacted the lives of 1,150 girls across the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo.