Northside Lethbridge Dodge partnering with Lethbridge College

Northside Lethbridge Dodge made a generous financial announcement on Monday morning that will support post-secondary education at Lethbridge College. A total of $100,000 is being given out for the Rita Simons Memorial Scholarship. In 2017, a total of $100,000 over five years was dished out to start the award. Russell Gallant, the General Manager of Northside Lethbridge Dodge, says his grandmother Rita Simons, came to Canada as a child and went back to school at the age of 55.

“It just shows me and I guess what the memory we’d like to preserve is nothing is impossible if you put your mind to it. You’ve got to do some hard work. I can imagine her walking into the classroom at 55 sitting down and trying to figure out what it was like. It was probably intimidating, scary and overwhelming. To put your mind to something and dedicate your hard work to it, that’s what the Rita Simons Memorial Scholarship embodies. To hear from the recipients who have received it and to hear their stories, I know the right people are getting this award and have the same values she had.”

The Rita Simons Memorial Scholarship award of $2500 is given to eight students each year. Which includes four who are enrolled in the Automotive Service Technician, Carpenter, Electrician or Heavy Equipment Technician Apprenticeship training programs and one who is enrolled in the Automotive Systems program. The remaining three annual awards will have a focus on students who are Indigenous, mature or single-custodial parents.