Yukon College Research Assistant awarded W. Garfield Weston Award

Nina Vogt

WHITEHORSE— Yukon raised Nina Vogt, research assistant with Northern Climate Exchange at Yukon College has just been awarded the W. Garfield Weston Award in Northern Research.

The W. Garfield Weston Foundation sponsors up to 15 scholarships, valued at $15,000 each, for students enrolled in a Master’s program in the natural sciences pursuing northern research. Through a competitive process, awards are presented at the graduate and postdoctoral levels to outstanding students.

“I am so happy I took the time to put in an application. Winning this award, I am following in the footsteps of other Yukon College students and employees! This money will go a long way towards supporting me during the remainder of my studies” - Nina Vogt (shown above completing fieldwork)

Nina is in her first year of a two-year, thesis-based Master's in Science program at The University of Alberta being completed at Yukon College, through our partnered Northern Environmental Conservation and Sciences program. Her thesis is looking at the effects of permafrost thaw on vegetation and its value to southern lakes caribou habitat in Yukon.

“We continue to be impressed by the academic and professional rigor of our students, faculty and researchers here, at Yukon College. External awards like those from the W. Garfield Weston Foundation help allow Yukoners, like Nina, to remain closer to home while studying.” - Clint Sawicki, Associate Vice President, Research Operations.

Prior to her current work, Nina studied micro-biology at The University of Victoria. Wanting to learn about and better understand the northern landscape, she came back home to pursue the Northern Sciences diploma at Yukon College and was awarded the Governor General Academic Medal in 2017.

After completing her Master’s next year, Nina plans to continue her work in Yukon with Yukon College, soon to be Yukon University.

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Find our more:

Northern Climate Exchange, Yukon College - https://www.yukoncollege.yk.ca/research/our-research/northern-climate-exchange

The W. Garfield Weston Foundation- http://www.westonfoundation.org/

For more information, contact: