Three Aurora students are getting a big boost for their futures after each landing a $5,000 scholarship from the Aurora Chamber of Commerce this June. The awards were handed out at the Chamber office through the Business Engaging Youth Program, which aims to help local young people step into careers that matter right here at home.
Alissa Primiani, a graduate of Cardinal Carter CHS, won the Business Scholarship, sponsored by the Lind Realty Team. She is heading to Queen’s Commerce this fall. Carly Ferguson, from Aurora High School, took home the Skilled Trades Scholarship from Alectra Utilities and will pursue a work placement in carpentry. Farhad Sadig, a St Maximillian Kolbe CHS grad, received the Manufacturing Scholarship, co-sponsored by BUNN and the Chamber, and will study Electrical Engineering at the University of Toronto.
When the program launched in 2023, Chamber President and CEO Sandra Ferri explained why these scholarships exist. “Both the manufacturing and skilled trade sectors are critical industries to our economy, and it’s important to invest in the next generation of professionals in these fields,” she said. The program is all about building a link between what students learn in school and what local businesses need.
The three scholarships directly target areas where Aurora employers see a real need for fresh talent. The Business Scholarship helps a budding entrepreneur or future business leader, while the Skilled Trades and Manufacturing awards support hands-on careers that keep the community running. With local companies like BUNN, a longtime Aurora manufacturer of beverage equipment, stepping up as sponsors, students get a clearer path from the classroom to the workplace.
The Chamber, which works with approximately 600 member companies, plans to keep the scholarship program going in future years. For the three winners, the money means less financial worry and a stronger start in fields that are set to grow.
