Meet the 2024 YMCA Scholarship Winners

We are thrilled to announce the 2024 Fall Scholarship winners! This year has some amazing applicants, and we are extremely proud of the winners this year, here is a little bit more about them:

Jorja Ryan — Jorja lives in St. John’s, Newfoundland and enjoys being active and is a multisport athlete. Jorja’s father (Steve Ryan) worked in a Yamaha dealership (Atlantic Recreation) before she was born. Her earliest memories are fun rides with her dad on ATVs, snowmobiles, side x sides—and her personal favorite, the WaveRunner. As Jorja said in her application: “The excitement and anticipation of going on a ride with my dad still gives me goosebumps to this day and memories that will last my lifetime. I will ensure that my future husband and children will be introduced to the excitement and joys that powersports brings to a family.” This Fall, Jorja will begin her studies in the Bachelor of Kinesiology program at Memorial University.

Delaney Hicks — Yamaha has been a part of Delaney’s life for as long as she can remember. With her father’s (Pat Hicks) long-standing career at Yamaha, Delaney has been immersed in Yamaha from a young age whether it was dirt bikes, four wheelers, snowmobiles or boats, there was always an adventure! Delaney is passionate about marine conservation and community outreach. It’s no surprise that Delaney pursued and completed her Marine Biology degree at Dalhousie University—graduating with a 3.84 GPA. In August 2023, Delaney packed her Yamaha gear bag and moved to British Columbia where she is now pursuing a Master of Science degree in Oceans and Fisheries at the Vancouver Campus of the University of British Columbia.

This year, the recipients of the two $2,500 Yamaha Scholarships are sisters — Madeleine and Sarah Delanty.

Madeleine Delanty — Madeleine says that Yamaha has been a name in her vocabulary for as long as she can remember. One of her favourite memories is riding ATVs and motorbikes with her younger sister at the Ride Like a Pro days. For the past three years, Madeleine has been living in Guelph, Ontario for school. In June she graduated with distinction from the Honours Bachelor of Science, Biological Science program at the University of Guelph. This Fall, Madeleine will be attending Western University to complete her Bachelor of Education. She will be focusing on intermediate and senior education in Biology and Social Sciences. Two broad courses that she came to love over the course of her undergrad at Guelph.

Sarah Delanty — Sarah says that she’s been a Yamaha fan “forever” thanks to her dad (John Delanty). Participating in Yamaha’s Ride Like a Pro days as well as her family’s love for backcountry camping has instilled a strong passion for the outdoors in Sarah. This passion has led Sarah to where she is now, studying Environmental Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Sarah is in her third academic year of the program. As part of her program, Sarah has had the opportunity to participate in co-op terms that allowed her to kayak through rivers looking for beaver dams and conduct hydraulic testing in northern Ontario. Sarah is looking to specialize in Water Resource Engineering as well as complete a capstone project (which is a yearlong design project) focusing on benefiting the environment and communities.

Colby Arychuk — Colby is from Kamloops BC. Colby has a passion for powersports, motorsports, marine, heavy-duty automotive which began at an early age. Working alongside his dad, Colby learned to fix and maintain any recreational toys that the family owned. In 2022, Colby joined the Outlaw Motorsports team and has been pursuing his Motorcycle/Powersports Red Seal Apprenticeship. “Colby is an enthusiast through and through; which keeps him heavily engaged in the Powersports way of life. This enthusiasm spills over into high quality workmanship, efficient job completion and a great attitude.” wrote Landon LeDuke (GM/Owner Outlaw Motorsports). Colby has completed his Levels 1 and 2 at the British Columbia Institute of Technology’s Apprenticeship Program and will be completing his Level 3 next.

Alexander Falloon — Alexander resides in Quesnel, British Columbia. Alexander was raised in a family passionate about motorsports and his passion for Yamaha products—whether motorbikes, snowmobiles or watersports has been a lifelong one starting from the age of 3 when he rode his first motorbike, a PW50! Alexander represents the 4th generation in his family owned and operated Yamaha Dealership (Eldorado Recreation). Alexander is looking to obtain his Red Seal as a Motorcycle Technician. He is then looking to complement that designation by enrolling in the Red Seal Marine Mechanical Technician Program: “since Yamaha Motorsports and Yamaha Outboards are integral to our business, earning accreditation as both a Motorcycle and Marine Technician will enhance Eldorado and Yamaha’s presence in our community and the surrounding areas.” Alexander has completed the Motorcycle Technician Apprentice level 1 program at British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) and has been accepted into Level 2 at BCIT!