By Emily Senger
The memory of one of the Canadian soldiers killed in Afghanistan will live on at the University of Calgary, in part due to a major cash donation from the federal government.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced June 22 that the federal government will contribute $25,000 to the Captain Nichola K.S. Goddard Memorial Scholarship.
Nichola Goddard, daughter of University of Calgary associate dean of education Tim Goddard, was killed in combat May 17, 2006 about 25 kilometers west of Kandahar.
The total amount of the scholarship has not been calculated, since donations keep arriving, but the federal government’s donation supplements thousands of dollars from donors across the country, said U of C director of communications Colleen Turner.
“The family is somewhat surprised [by the donations],” said Turner. “There are old ladies sending in $10 and families sending in $600.”
The scholarship will be available in fall 2007, and is open to graduate students from Papua New Guinea, where Goddard was born, or Afghani citizens. First Nations students are also eligible.
Turner added the U of C is working with the Goddard family to publish a book of Nichola’s letters.
“These are letters sent back to her family and friends,” said Turner. “She had a really extensive list of people she kept in contact with.”
All proceeds from the book–to be published by Christmas–will go to the scholarship.