By Jeffrey Heyden-Kaye
Lindsey Amundsen-Meyer, 25, and from Ponoka, was like any other graduate student at the University of Calgary, studying hard, meeting deadlines and paying the bills.
Until now.
She was recently awarded the prestigious Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship. The scholarship is meant to attract and retain the best of the best doctoral students in Canadian schools.
“I didn’t believe I received it. I was in Regina at the time and my husband read the letter to me,” said Amundsen-Meyer when she had heard the news. Amundsen-Meyer is one of eight University of Calgary graduate students who will receive $150,000 over a three year period. She said it will pay for her living expenses which gives her the opportunity to spend more time on her doctoral thesis.
“I’m currently in my third year of studies and it takes about five to six years to finish a PhD.”explained Amundsen-Meyer.
She is an archaeology grad student whose research is based in southern Alberta. She is checking the Old North Road, which parallels the Queen Elizabeth II highway, to plot the settlements along this route. Amundsen-Meyer explained whenever there is planned construction, an archaeologist must survey the land prior to development. Her thesis can be applied to future development.
Amundsen-Meyer said this scholarship is good exposure for archaeology in Canada and for the University of Calgary. She plans to have her PhD at the end of three years and hopes to work for Parks Canada.