Kennedy Rolston

Kennedy is the inaugural recipient of the ḴELOŦEN ȻE S,ISTEW̱ Fund Award.

She is a fourth-year civil engineering student at the University of Victoria.

Being one of very few women, and one of very few Indigenous people in my classes can be incredibly difficult. Some days it can be hard to find peers that can relate. Having Indigenous engineers and architects to look up to as role models and mentors makes a huge difference. Seeing the possibilities of what you can become and how you can make a difference makes it all seem possible.

I am so grateful to see that there are so many companies in the industry that are supporting Indigenous students in pursuing their careers in engineering and architecture.

I hope that this award can inspire many more to pursue their passions in the field and remove the financial barriers that many are facing when it comes to pursuing post-secondary education. I am honoured to receive the ḴEL,ḴELOŦEN ȻE S,ISTEW̱ Award, and hope that someday I can be a mentor to other Indigenous students pursuing engineering or architecture.