by Jacob Noseworthy
Maxwell Nicholson is a household name in Grand Forks, widely known for his baking and cupcakes sold at the local farmers’ market. However, most of his customers are not aware of his academic prowess as well.
After graduating this year, Nicholson earned over $25,000 in scholarships to the University of Victoria (UVic). He earned approximately $20,000 in a large entrance scholarship to UVic, but also qualified for a substantial $5,000 scholarship from Black Press. The Black Press scholarship is awarded annually to 37 students entering the University of Victoria - Gustavson School of Business. Nicholson was selected as the applicant from School District 51, Boundary.
Nicholson is only seventeen years old, a year younger than most of his classmates that he graduated from Grand Forks Secondary School with in June of this year.
For the $20,000 entrance scholarship Nicholson needed an astounding 97 per cent average to qualify.
While doing his studies in Victoria, he plans to major in business with an emphasis on economics. Nicholson said "I am pretty set on that [and] find it immensely interesting." To qualify for the Black Press scholarship, Nicholson earned it based on his grades, a supplementary application about his goals, plans and community work and he also submitted a PowerPoint about his business. Black Press is an independently-owned Canadian newspaper company based in Victoria, serving areas from British Columbia and Alberta, to Hawaii and Ohio. The Grand Forks Gazette is a Black Press paper.
When asked about whether he planned to continue with his successful cupcake business while in university or after, Nicholson said, "It's a tricky subject because most of my customers don't know I am also good at academics, so they just think I should stick with cupcakes."
Further on the subject he said, "As far as the business goes my mom will be carrying it on. But as for the future I just don't see it as profitable, or impactful enough to find appealing. I have definitely enjoyed it but I feel like I have far more potential."
Nicholson is planning to go for a five-year MBA (Master of Business Administration), and hopes to complete at least four years at the University of Victoria, before possibly moving on to a "more prestigious university."
His long-term venture in Grand Forks was building up his business, Alaythia Cakes, creating a wide-range of delicacies from cupcakes sold each week at the Grand Forks Farmers’ Market, to cakes for all occasions, weddings to birthdays.