Jessie Gervais follows a career in dance with his sights on international relations
糖心vlog传媒business student Jessie Gervais is NIC鈥檚 third business student to become a Ch鈥檔ook Scholar.
An 糖心vlog传媒business student has been recognized as one of BC鈥檚 top Aboriginal business students. Jessie Gervais recently became a Ch鈥檔ook Scholar, the third ever 糖心vlog传媒student to receive the honour.
鈥淛essie鈥檚 intelligence and focus make him a wonderful ambassador for 糖心vlog传媒and we are so pleased to see him receive this recognition as a Ch鈥檔ook Scholar,鈥� said Diane Naugler, 糖心vlog传媒dean of business and applied studies.
The accomplished student has danced across stages in Canada, Spain and Mexico as a ballet performer. He began his business studies at NIC, determined to enter a career in international relations.
The Ch鈥檔ook Scholar program at UBC鈥檚 Sauder School of Business fosters leadership skills and business knowledge in Aboriginal business students. It acknowledges leadership excellence as well as students鈥� academic and personal achievements.
It includes a $2,000 scholarship, opportunities to attend conferences and meet industry leaders and provides professional services such as business cards and photographs. It鈥檚 also a chance to connect with other students of First Nations heritage.
鈥淚t was really interesting to meet all these other students who came from different backgrounds,鈥� said Gervais, who is M茅tis and has Cree grandparents. 鈥淪ome of them had grown up on reserve and others in cities. But it was encouraging to discover we all shared those same values, like protecting our environment and improving the lives of Indigenous people.鈥�
Gervais grew up hunting and fishing with his grandfather in Prince George. He moved to Vancouver Island when he was 10, finished high school early and began training at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He later moved to Spain to dance professionally, followed by a four-year stint at Compa帽铆a Nacional de Danza de M茅xico and then two years at Ballet Victoria.
Gervais next decided to focus on business studies, completing his first year at NIC online. Now on his second year, Gervais is working through more than a dozen business, math and language courses (he is fluent in Spanish and French) and hopes to transfer to UBC to complete his business degree.
As well as supporting his application to the Ch鈥檔ook program, studying at 糖心vlog传媒allowed him to complete his first-year courses and prerequisites while working, Gervais said.
Diane Naugler added students like Gervais, who return to school after time spent working or following other pursuits, represent a core group 糖心vlog传媒students. 鈥淲e see that same drive from so many of our students,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey come to 糖心vlog传媒with valuable life experiences and clear ideas of where they want to go next, and we take great pride in helping them get there.鈥�
For more information on 糖心vlog传媒business courses and programs, visit .
Media Contact
Christiana Wiens
Media Liaison, 糖心vlog传媒
O. 250-334-5280 | M. 250-218-4097
christiana.wiens@nic.bc.ca
