Jenessa Martel awarded Fillmore Riley Indigenous Scholarship & Internship

Jenessa Martel, a University of Manitoba student majoring in microbiology, has been awarded the 2024 Fillmore Riley Indigenous Scholarship and Internship.

In addition to receiving a $5,000 scholarship for the 2024-25 school year, Jenessa will also gain hands-on experience in the operations of a professional services firm through the part-time paid internship at Fillmore Riley.

The internship will expose Janessa to the operations of an office environment. She will work with professionals in various disciplines, including law, human resources, finance, technology and marketing.

Jenessa was one of the many exceptional Indigenous students who applied for the scholarship. In addition to having an outstanding academic and volunteer track record, Jenessa expressed a keen interest in learning more about the operations of a business from the professionals who contribute to the firm's success.

"I recently met a woman who completed an MBA and now runs a microbiology research centre," Jenessa explained. "It had never occurred to me that I could use my knowledge in a business context. I look forward to learning about the various business functions that contribute to running a successful business."

The inaugural scholarship was an initiative of Fillmore Riley's Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

"We developed this scholarship because we want to contribute to the success of Indigenous students pursuing post-secondary education, and to provide a student with an opportunity that they might not otherwise have," said Delaney Vun, a partner at Fillmore Riley and the chair of the DEI Committee. "We interviewed many highly qualified candidates. We congratulate Jenessa for being the recipient of the scholarship."

Jenessa is Red River Métis and stays connected to her roots through her involvement with the Seven Oaks Métis Local.