Inaugural Ray's Place scholar to study at U of T

Creemore’s Galen Yates, who will study engineering science at the University of Toronto in the fall, has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the Ray’s Place Scholarship.

The stakes were high and the competition stiff, with a total of 15 qualified students applying for the lucrative prize.

“I was thrilled,” said Yates of hearing the news. “The program I’ve chosen is so expensive – it’s a relief knowing that I’ll have that help.”

The award has a potential total value of $20,000, payable at $5,000 a year over four years of study, provided that Yates maintains particular academic averages in his courses.

According to Laurie Copeland, who chairs the Ray’s Place Board, the award is instrumental in realizing the organization’s goal of increasing the number of students who acquire post-secondary education.

In order to qualify, students had to be residents of Clearview Township and graduate from a high school in Simcoe County. They also had to exhibit both leadership qualities and financial need.

Yates was the exceptional candidate, having, in addition to playing bass for the Jazz, R&B, and Concert bands at Stayner Collegiate Institute, been a member of basketball, volleyball, tennis, badminton, alpine skiing, and curling teams over the course of his four years at the school.

Yates has partnered with Ray’s Place in the past, spearheading a local youth basketball program, and was in fact instrumental in the community initiative that, in aiming but ultimately failing to secure a town-owned building for local youth, led indirectly to the formation of Ray’s Place.

Copeland was sure to point out that no one involved in the day-to-day operations of Ray’s Place was involved in the selection of Yates for the scholarship, with the decision being made by an independent committee based on his academic merit and exemplary leadership skills.

Yates is enthusiastic at the prospect of making positive change in the world, stating on his application that he “has always wanted to play a role in developing new technologies and making new discoveries” – a goal that his attendance at the University of Toronto will no doubt help bring to fruition.