MEET THE 2023 YMCA SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS

Yamaha Motor Canada is excited to introduce its annual scholarship winners. The application program ran from May 1 through June 9, 2023, with $20,000 available for applicants.

The $5,000 Tim Kryski Scholarship, established in 2022, is in memory of a long-time Yamaha team member, passionate powersports enthusiast, and proud Newfoundland and Labrador resident. Applicants were evaluated on community Involvement, volunteer work and extracurricular activities.

The recipient of the 2023 Tim Kryski Scholarship was Anna O’Leary, who lives in St. John’s. This fall, she will start her Bachelor of Science degree (major in biochemistry) at Memorial University in Newfoundland.

Anna has always loved the outdoors, explaining in her application, “There is nothing that compares to the sense of freedom and wonder as you watch the trees and hills pass by, feel the wheels as they grip the dirt road and the machine move as it navigates the changing terrain. Everything else fades away! The stress of school, dance competitions, other people’s expectations for me… none of it seems insurmountable when that engine starts.”

For the $5,000 Chris Anderson Memorial Scholarship and the $2,500 Yamaha Scholarships (two available), applicants were evaluated on community involvement, volunteer work and extracurricular activities. They were also required to submit a presentation explaining why they needed a Yamaha scholarship, how it would benefit them, and outline their short- and long-term academic plans.

The Chris Anderson Memorial Scholarship winner, Jonathan Shaffer, is attending Trent University for the Forensic Science program. His father has worked for Yamaha his entire life. As Jonathan says, “It goes without saying that the Yamaha brand has had a significant influence on me from supporting Yamaha apparel since I was very young to playing on the water with WaveRunners and kneeboards. Yamaha was always top-of-mind in our house.”

Jonathan is also passionate about making a difference in the community. When he was 12, he started volunteering with Ve’ahavta preparing meals, baked goods and clothing packages, as well as helping distribute them to the people of Toronto via their Outreach van.

Nolan Regier, who received one of two Yamaha scholarships, was born and raised in Exeter, Ontario. He works at Northside Motorsports, where he is progressing through his Yamaha Technical Academy Bronze certification.

Growing up, Nolan developed a love for the outdoors and a passion for motorsports, and has worked for Southwest Marine & Powersports for the past seven years. Through his experience at the dealership, Nolan has developed a strong work ethic, excellent customer service skills and a deep understanding of the Yamaha motorsports Industry.

As he prepares to graduate from university, Nolan is excited to take the skills and knowledge that he has gained and apply them in his future endeavours. He is passionate about the motorsports industry and hopes to pursue a career in this field.

The second Yamaha scholarship winner is Eve Delanty from Milton, Ontario. In the fall, she will be attending the University of Waterloo’s Health Science co-op program.

In the Milton community, Eve has been volunteering with the Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Homework Club for the past four years. Each week, Eve meets with her mentee to support their homework completion and engagement in school. Eve believes that a sense of belonging is an essential human need, so she is committed to getting to know each mentee and their interests and talents. This way, Eve can help celebrate their gifts and help them see the valuable contributions they can make to their future and their community. In April 2023, Eve received the Volunteer Halton’s Cheers to Volunteers Award in recognition of her long-term commitment and impact in the community through Big Brothers Big Sisters.

This year, Yamaha Motor Canada established the Technician Scholarship where 2 scholarships of $2,500 were available. This year’s recipients are Katelin (Kat) Nadler and Clovis Gagnier.

Kat Nadler will be attending Centennial College’s Ashtonbee Campus, where she will be taking the 310G Motorcycle Technician Apprenticeship Training Level 1 program.

After two years of working as a Service Advisor at Snow City Cycle Marine, Kat says “she is more than ready to start getting her hands dirty.” There is nothing more satisfying for her than effectively and efficiently diagnosing and rectifying an issue on a machine.

Kat’s mission as a Motorsports Apprentice is to promote and support staying safe both on and off the road, to help riders stay happy and healthy, and to “keep the Revs going on whatever revs the hearts of her customers.”

Kat’s goal is to become a Red Seal certified Motorcycle, Motorsports, Watercraft and Power Equipment Technician and to one day open a dirt track featuring environmentally friendly trail bikes and off-road vehicles. As Kat says, “Future generations should not need to worry about the negative environmental impact of their favourite pastimes.”

Clovis Gagnier grew up in a small town, where his love of motorsports activities started at a young age. He has been riding dirt bikes since he was four years old, starting with a little PW50 and working his way up to a YZ250F. Yamaha products have always been his go-to choice, and he firmly believes in their quality and performance.

In 2017, Clovis took part in his first race and managed to finish in an impressive position within the top five. This experience ignited his passion for motocross and motivated him to pursue the sport further. In 2018 and 2019, Clovis achieved outstanding results by securing second place twice in the National FMSQ Championship. These achievements not only reinforced his dedication to motorsports but also allowed him to connect with the Yamaha family.

“In 2020 and 2021, I raced on a YZ125, which provided an exhilarating experience, and to this day, I consider it the most enjoyable bike I have ridden,” Clovis explained. “In 2022, I purchased my first bike, a YZ250F, which took my skills to the next level. The excitement and growth I experienced with Yamaha products further solidified my commitment to the brand. This year, I acquired the all-new Yamaha YDX Moro 5, which has been a fantastic addition to my collection.”
For the past year, Clovis has been an apprentice at Quad Expert and is a registered apprentice with the Ministry of Labour. Clovis is dedicated to becoming the best technician he can be. He is continuously seeking new knowledge and solutions to technical challenges. To that end, he has achieved Silver certifications in Motorsports, Marine and Parts & Accessories through the Yamaha Education Centre.
Clovis is enrolled at Centennial College’s Ashtonbee Campus, where he will be studying the 310G Motorcycle Technician Program.