Grammar student wins scholarship to Brock University

Grammar School and Sixth Form student Fabrice Huchard, 18, was awarded the scholarship and will begin his studies in Business Communications at Brock university in September.

Guernseyman Sir Isaac Brock, the university’s namesake, was born in 1769 and commanded Canadian soldiers in the war of 1812.

His heroism is honoured each year as students in the Bailiwick are offered scholarships to the university in Canada.

Only one undergraduate student is chosen each year.

Fabrice came to Guernsey from France in 2015, joining Year 8 at La Mare de Carteret High School as a non-fluent English speaker.

He excelled in his GCSEs and progressed to study A-level French, English literature and photography at the Sixth Form Centre.

He said the application process was demanding.

‘It was a bit of a challenge, I felt like you really had to prove yourself, prove that you could handle studying abroad and make the most of the opportunity, and bring something to the university,’ he said.

He added that his positive mind set got him through the interview stage.

‘I was a bit stressed before, but I told myself I would answer the questions as well as I could and just be myself, and then I would have done my best and hope they would see my potential.’

A keen football and basketball player, Fabrice said that although he would miss the island he was looking forward to the opportunities Canada has to offer.

‘Guernsey is very nice place that I will miss, and of course I will miss my friends and family, but Canada is multicultural, with new experiences, people and places,’ he said.

‘When people heard I was going to Canada they didn’t believe me, and I think a lot of them wanted to be in my shoes.’

Fabrice added that the pandemic did not deter him, confident that after adapting to the lockdowns in Guernsey he could deal with independently managing his studies.

‘When the first lockdown came that was new and I didn’t cope well, but by the time the second one had started I was ready and got organised with my own timetable, so I think I could handle isolation at university if needed,’ he said.

Director of Sixth Form Studies Dr Nicola Papworth said students from the Sixth Form Centre have a strong track record of winning the undergraduate Brock scholarship, and wished Fabrice luck.

‘We are absolutely delighted that Fabrice is the worthy recipient of this year’s award and I am sure he will rise to the challenge of studying in Canada, and both enjoy himself and benefit hugely from this experience,’ she said.