2026 Baffinland Student Scholarship Recipients

Press Release

Iqaluit, NU – Baffinland Iron Mines Corporation (Baffinland) is pleased to announce the 2026 Baffinland Student Scholarship recipients. Congratulations to Bernice Kalluk of Arctic Bay, Joan Joanas of Clyde River, Blandina Iyerak of Igloolik, Jillian Kyak of Pond Inlet and Haily Arnaqjuaq of Sanirajak on each being awarded a $5,000 academic scholarship.

Baffinland is committed to supporting all Nunavummiut in their pursuit of post-secondary education. We believe education is vital in strengthening resilient and empowered communities, and the ongoing development of Baffin Island and all of Nunavut.

Every year, Baffinland awards five Inuit students with a $5,000 scholarship to support their journeys toward rewarding and prosperous careers. This program is open to all Inuit students enrolled under the Nunavut Agreement and pursuing a post-secondary education; however, priority is given to students from the five surrounding communities of Arctic Bay, Clyde River, Igloolik, Pond Inlet and Sanirajak.

Since 2014, Baffinland has awarded $325,000 in scholarships to 65 recipients. Scholarships are one of the many benefits Baffinland provides annually to North Baffin communities.

We are pleased to introduce you to this year’s scholarship recipients:

Bernice Kalluk (Arctic Bay)

Arctic Bay’s Bernice Kalluk is determined to make her dream of becoming an elementary school teacher a reality. She is currently enrolled in her fourth year of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) at Nunavut Arctic College and is motivated by a desire to help preserve Inuit language and culture.

“I want to teach younger children, mostly in our native language,” she says. “Not only do I want to teach them how to write in Inuktitut, but also the importance of learning while they are young.”

Bernice is actively involved in her community, often volunteering her time to help others access funding and providing food to those in need. That commitment to helping others is a key reason why she decided to become a teacher.

“This program is very important because many classes in our community are cancelled due to a lack of teachers and substitute teachers,” she says. “It affects the children, and they miss valuable school days. I want to help them be full-time students, and I won’t give up until I finish this program.”

Bernice says the scholarship from Baffinland will help ease the financial burden of post-secondary education.

“It will help me buy school supplies like pens, notebooks, binders and a backpack to hold all my stuff while I’m attending college.”

Joan Joanas (Clyde River)

Joan Joanas from Clyde River is in her first year of the Early Childhood Education program at Nunavut Arctic College. After completing the two-year program, she plans to open a daycare in her community, where there is currently limited access to child care.

Among her peers, Joan is known for her generosity as she often shares country food and baked goods at work and school. “I’m very close to my family and community, and I try to help others when I can,” she says.

Being awarded this scholarship will help Joan during her practicum placement and with the extra expenses associated with post-secondary education.

Blandina Iyerak (Igloolik)

Following in the footsteps of her mother and grandmother, Blandina Iyerak from Igloolik is well on her way to achieving her dream of becoming an Inuk teacher. She is currently in her fourth year of the Nunavut Teacher Education Program (NTEP) at Nunavut Arctic College, which she’s completing in her home community.

After graduating from high school in 2016, Blandina started working at the local school, taking on roles as a substitute teacher, student assistant and secretary. These early experiences, along with encouragement from her colleagues, inspired her to go back to school to pursue a post-secondary education.

“Teachers I worked with became a strong support system and encouraged me to apply to NTEP when it became available in our community.”

This scholarship will support Blandina as she completes her studies and continues working toward her goal of becoming a teacher.

Jillian Kyak (Pond Inlet)

Jillian Kyak from Pond Inlet has always wanted to be a teacher, but that calling deepened as she became an adult and reflected on the impact her Inuk teachers had on her growing up. She is in her fourth year of the Nunavut Teachers Education Program (NTEP) at Nunavut Arctic College in partnership with Memorial University of Newfoundland, and hopes to one day be a positive influence for the next generation.

“There seems to be more non-Inuit teachers in the younger classes now, and I’d like to be an Inuk speaking teacher who can inspire Inuit students,” she says.

As she progresses through the program, Jillian is eager to deepen her knowledge and continue developing her perspective as an educator. This scholarship from Baffinland will support her as she completes her studies while raising her daughter.

“I believe in myself and my ability to continue my studies so I can graduate with my classmates,” she says. “I want to build a stable and comfortable life for me and my daughter once I’m done school.”

Haily Arnaqjuaq (Sanirajak)

Haily Arnaqjuaq from Sanirajak is currently in her second year at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, where she is enrolled in the Science One program. She is completing the prerequisites required to pursue a four-year degree in Civil Engineering.

Haily discovered her passion for infrastructure through her work with the local housing association in Sanirajak. After five summers in the role, she was inspired to pursue a career focused on designing safe and reliable structures that improve everyday life.

“Civil engineering is a career where I can combine technical knowledge with practical problem-solving to make a meaningful impact, especially in northern and remote communities where strong infrastructure is essential,” she says.

This scholarship from Baffinland will help ease some of the financial pressures associated with Haily’s post-secondary education, allowing her to remain focused on her studies and achieving her goals.

For any questions or media requests, please contact:

Peter Akman
Head of Stakeholder Relations & Communications
Tel. +1 (289) 834 0744
Email: peter.akman@baffinland.com Web: https://baffinland.com/

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