Danielle Ignacio-Pacunayen is was to enter her final year of marketing at the University of Calgary this fall with a new scholarship in tow, but was held back a few days by Hurricane Irma.

She said she was surprised to learn she was this year's of a $1,500 scholarship from the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce.

SA国际影视传媒淚 wasn't expecting it at all,SA国际影视传媒� she said over the phone Tuesday from Tampa, Fla., where she is visiting her boyfriend.

The University of Calgary marketing major is going into her final year of a Bachelor of Commerce degree.

Ignacio-Pacunayen said she is grateful to the chamber for the award, which will supplement her tuition.

SA国际影视传媒淓ven having our student financial assistance, there's a lot of unexpected expenses that come up when you're away from home,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭his has been a godsend for me.SA国际影视传媒�

The scholarship is given out annually to a Yellowknife student enrolled in a post-secondary business program who plans work in NWT after graduation.

Ignacio-Pacunayen found out she won the scholarship in mid-August, while working in Yellowknife as a summer student at the federal government's public services and procurement department.

SA国际影视传媒淚t was a really nice surprise,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚 just can't wait to go back to school.SA国际影视传媒�

Ignacio-Pacunayen chose to major in marketing because it allows for creativity and is SA国际影视传媒渁 little more practicalSA国际影视传媒� than international relations, another degree she was considering.

After graduating, she would like to promote Northern tourism to the rest of Canada and internationally, either for the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment, or on her own.

SA国际影视传媒淭hat would be the coolest and best thing that I could do up north, as of right now,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

According to chamber executive director Deneen Everette, the chamber received submissions from seven SA国际影视传媒渧ery qualified applicants.SA国际影视传媒�

Ignacio-Pacunayen was chosen for her academic achievements in university, and her community involvement.

SA国际影视传媒淒anielle did a really excellent job at demonstrating that she was a very qualified candidate,SA国际影视传媒� said Everett.

As a volunteer with non-profit Enactus Calgary, Ignacio-Pacunayen works to promote business literacy. The organization's Empower program, for example, helps female immigrants navigate the bureaucracy of starting a new company in Calgary.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's been a really successful program, especially because Calgary's such a big place for newcomers,SA国际影视传媒� said Ignacio-Pacunayen.

For Everett, the scholarship program is a way for the chamber of commerce to encourage economic development in the territory.

SA国际影视传媒淲e really wanted to encourage young people to pursue a post-secondary education in business. There are a lot of opportunities here in the north, and we wanted to put our money where our mouth is and support students who would potentially come back,SA国际影视传媒� she said.