Shad Entrance Scholarships for Indigenous Students from the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan – Josephina Hovdestad
Q: Tell us a bit about yourself.
My name is Josephina Hovdestad. I am 15 years old and in grade 10. I am Métis, and I received my Shad scholarship from the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan. My Métis heritage is very important to me and is something that I am incredibly proud of. Some of my passions include volunteering, activism, music, and community involvement. I have played piano for the past decade, and I am looking forward to taking my Grade 7 exam next year. I am involved with the Girl Guides Canada program as a Ranger. Through Girl Guides, I was very fortunate to have received an award titled the Canada Cord. My unit and I are looking forward to going to Europe in the summer of 2026 and we have started fundraising for it! I am involved with two local youth groups, Youth4Change and Melfort Youth Evolution. In the spring of 2024, I was nominated and awarded the Mel-Bex “Junior Citizen of the Year” award by the Melfort Trade Alliance Chamber of Commerce. This was quite an honour and such an amazing experience! I work two part-time jobs, and I am involved in my school’s Student Council, Team Drama, Jazz Band, and Social Awareness Team. I love meeting new people and experiencing new things. I cannot wait for all of the fun I will have this summer with Shad.
Q: Why do you want to participate in the Shad program/ What are you most looking forward to?
The Shad program will allow me to further my knowledge in STEAM and entrepreneurship, meet new people from across Canada who are interested in these topics and share similar passions to me, and experience what living in a big city and on campus in university is like. I am looking forward to some of the “extra” activities, such as viewing historical artifacts and exploring the natural side of the city.
Q: What motivates or sparks your curiosity in STEAM and/or entrepreneurship?
Ever since I was young, I’ve been interested in space and astronomy. I wanted to become an astronaut and explore the endless void that we call outer space, and although I still want to explore what is beyond our world, I’m more focused on studying how and why certain astronomical events occur.
Q: How do you envision your future?
After graduation, I plan on going to university and studying physics to later become an astrophysicist. Eventually, I want to study and receive both my Masters and Doctorate. My end goal is to work for the Canadian Space Agency as a researcher and physicist.
Want to meet the other Indigenous Scholars from the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan? Read their stories
