Sarah Fedoruk’s dad passed away in June of 2022, leaving the young, single Indigenous mom just as she was considering college classes. In the months before he passed, Fedoruk’s dad pushed her to follow that dream.
“My dad would say, ‘Why don’t you do something with your art? You are so talented,” said the first-year Portage College Native Cultural Arts student, a guest speaker at last Friday’s night’s Portage College Scholarship Fundraising Event.
Her dad’s passing —plus leaving her family and a young daughter in Edmonton to follow that dream — has been very difficult.
“It was not an easy decision to leave, to leave her, but I’m doing this for her and for me,” Fedoruk said, shedding tears as she shared the hardships — including leaving an abusive relationship — challenges, joys and achievements leading up to becoming a Portage student. She told a packed gymnasium of guests that her emotional and financial well-being had been tested —but with the support of her family, the help of the college and the funds from scholarship and sponsors— she is reaching for her dream. “I have been at the end of my financial rope. However, this college — holy, this college — and this town are seriously so incredible. They have supported, and support, me wherever I may be falling short.”
Even with some of her schooling covered through Indigenous funding, there are many additional costs that affect her learning.
Fedoruk leaves her classes every Friday afternoon and drives to Edmonton to see her daughter. She drives back to Portage College every Sunday.
Car payments, two rents to pay, utility bills, fuel costs and supporting her daughter are all part of the financial picture. It’s a similar story for many other students she shares classes with.
“The school scholarships and bursaries — my goodness, the scholarships and bursaries are literally my saving grace,” she said, thanking the many stakeholders and supporters for making her dream possible. “Thanks to family, to this college, the staff, the instructors and all of you who donate and support the scholarship programs. As my dad would say, it’s like a well-oiled machine, and none of it works if we don’t work together.”
College officials say they need a little more time to tabulate the net proceeds from the March 3 event. The goal was to raise $60,000.
Earlier events, dating back almost two decades have helped to create a self-generating endowment fund — the Spirit of Community Partnership — that has helped to raise about half a million dollars. Money from that fund is given out annually to Portage students who "give back" to their community.
