Every year, the United Way Pembina Valley gives out three scholarships to a graduate from each high school in Morden and Winkler.
The agency selects students who have demonstrated social awareness and leadership through volunteer service and involvement within the community.
Melanie Rouire, from Morden Collegiate Institute, picked up one of this year's three scholarships.
Rouire’s community involvement includes volunteer work with RCMP NYAC, SCCR, Morden Physiotherapy, the local Canadian Parents for French chapter, the Love Your Lake cleanup, Morden Achievers 4-H Club, and others.
Rouire plans to study kinesiology at the University of Manitoba.
Tabea Nikel, from Winkler's Garden Valley Collegiate, also picked up one of the three scholarships.
Nikel has been an active volunteer with Central Station Community Centre for the past six years in a variety of capacities, including helping out with fundraising events, food prep and serving, child care, and as a drop-in host.
Tabea will be attending the University of Manitoba this fall with the goal of becoming a therapist.
Eric Xu of Winkler's Northlands Parkway Collegiate has volunteered at Salem Home and the Winkler Senior Centre and has been active in his school community as a math tutor, founder and president of the Math Club, and a student council member. Xu was one of the three recipients.
Xu plans to use his $1000 scholarship when he studies computer engineering at the University of British Columbia.
In addition to the scholarship program, United Way Pembina Valley also contributes two bursaries of $750 to each of the three high schools. Those recipients are selected by the schools.