Melissa Rektor

Melissa Rektor, 2015 Transfer Scholarship Recipient

Born and raised in Prince Rupert, Melissa Rektor fell in love with nature at an early age. From building forts to hiking and exploring, Rektor grew up in the outdoors. Over time, her love of nature grew into an interest in science and eventually the pursuit of a career in environmental studies.

In 2015, a $5,000 Ike Barber Transfer Scholarship helped Rektor continue her studies at Royal Roads University (RRU) in Environmental Science after earning her Applied Coastal Ecology diploma at Northwest Community College (NWCC) in her hometown.

"I loved the hands on approach and focus on coastal issues I got at NWCC, but I was looking for a broader understanding of environmental studies," says Rektor. "The draw for me of the program at RRU is getting to see how the different areas of study that we're learning about form a bigger picture."

However, it did take a little bit of hustling to make it happen. In order to meet all of the requirements for the Royal Roads start date, Rektor had to take a few classes by distance education, since some NWCC courses are only offered every two years. An additional challenge was the cost of relocating as a student.

"It's expensive, and without the Transfer Scholarship, it would have been more challenging," says Rektor. "Without the Transfer Scholarship, I would have had to take a year off of school to work and save some money before moving to Victoria This way, I got to go straight into my program and I'll be finished by September."

Rektor is part of a small cohort of 25 students that takes the
same classes at the same time. Because the coursework involves a lot of group
work, Rektor has developed a community and support network.

"We've gotten to know each other pretty well, which is nice," says Rektor. "The program is really intense so it helps to go through it with others."

Rektor likes to continue to take advantage of the natural beauty that surrounds her by taking time on weekends to hike with friends, and she enjoys how bike-friendly Victoria is.

Once she's finished her program, Rektor is interested in pursuing environmental management or monitoring. The program opens the door to opportunities such as lab analysis work, environmental consulting work, or aiding in the process of environmental assessments such as for mining or
industrial development.