HPSD students explore university life through Verna J. Kirkness Program

Nine HPSD students had the opportunity to experience university life firsthand through the Verna J. Kirkness Education Foundation Program in 2026, exploring new interests, working alongside mentors and getting a glimpse of what life after high school could look like.

Students from E.W. Pratt High School, Roland Michener Secondary School and Georges P. Vanier School participated in the week-long program, with eight attending the University of Calgary and one attending the University of Manitoba.

The Verna J. Kirkness Program connects First Nations, Métis and Inuit high school students with immersive, hands-on learning opportunities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) at partnering Canadian universities.

Four E.W. Pratt High School students — Marley Giroux, Caleigh Jackson Brule, Jemma Hesse and Keya Willier — attended the University of Calgary. The students learned about the opportunity through E.W. Pratt Career Coaches and recently shared their experiences with the program.

Five days to explore

For the students, VJK offered a chance to find out what university was really like before having to make decisions about life after high school.

“I wanted to know what post-secondary would be like,” said Caleigh.

Jemma had similar reasons for applying, but also hoped the experience would help ease some of her uncertainty about the future.

“I was scared for university and didn't know what it would be like, and I was thinking of taking a gap year after high school,” she said.

Once on campus, the students were immersed in different areas of research and learning.

Caleigh explored aerodynamics, drones and wildfire mapping and built drone components using a 3D printer. Marley learned about predicting hazards and worked with interactive vests designed to identify potential hazards. Jemma explored woodworking, toured different areas of the university and worked one-on-one with university students on a research project.

The experience also gave the students a taste of campus life.

Jemma had expected participants to spend most of their time together in one large group but was pleasantly surprised to be placed in smaller groups. Her accommodations also exceeded her expectations, with her own room in a suite with a shared kitchen and bathroom.

Caleigh went into the experience without many expectations.

“I was ready for anything!” she said.

Beyond research and academics, some of the students' favourite memories came from simply experiencing university life and getting to know the people around them.

Caleigh particularly enjoyed the honour dinner, where she was able to sit down with her group and mentor. Staying at International House also gave her and the other students time to gather in the common areas in the evenings to play board games and visit.

For Jemma, those quieter moments were also among the highlights.

“I loved hanging out during downtime — we played board games, went on supervised group walks and had dinners.”

Marley had the opportunity to visit Stantec in Calgary, where she saw dinosaur and leaf fossils and learned how to 3D print a LEGO block.

One mentor to guide you

Throughout the week, students worked alongside mentors who helped introduce them to university-level learning and research.

Caleigh described her mentors as knowledgeable and funny, often using jokes as they shared information and worked with the students.

Marley had a similar experience, describing her mentor as knowledgeable, kind and able to make complicated information easier to understand.

“He could explain things in a way that was easy to understand,” she said.

Jemma's experience was a little different. Her mentor connected her with different university students and professors throughout the week, giving her the opportunity to learn from a variety of people.

“The spontaneity actually made it really fun,” she said. “I felt really supported.”

A lifetime of opportunity ahead

For some of the students, five days at university changed how they viewed their plans after high school.

Caleigh had already been considering the University of Calgary and planned to pursue social work. After being exposed to new areas of study during VJK, however, she also became interested in anthropology.

“I liked learning about how they study, and this experience opened my horizons to other options,” she said. “I can totally see myself going to U of C.”

Marley hopes to pursue nursing and said experiencing campus life strengthened her desire to attend university.

For Jemma, the week helped alleviate a fear that had been influencing her plans after graduation.

“I was scared to go to university and was thinking about taking a gap year because I've never been away from home,” she said. “After this experience, I'm really excited to go to university and I'm not going to take a gap year.”

When asked what they would tell another Grade 11 student who was considering VJK, all three had similar advice: apply.

“Just do it!” said Caleigh. “You can always decline the acceptance, but you can't go back after applications are closed.”

“Just apply and see if you get in!” said Marley. “It's a once-in-a-lifetime kind of program — you can make new friends and find new opportunities.”

Jemma also encouraged students not to be intimidated by the academic side of the program. While students gave a presentation to their group at the end of the week, she said it wasn't formal, and students weren't required to speak if they weren't comfortable.

“It wasn't scary,” she said. “This experience didn't feel like school — it was fun getting to see the university and what it was like. We didn't have to write any papers and we weren't graded — it was just fun.”

Applications for the 2027 Verna J. Kirkness Program will open later this fall. HPSD students interested in learning more about the program or applying are encouraged to speak with their Career Coach.