Canada’s Youth Media Alliance (YMA) has selected Maria Bui, a graduate from Centennial College’s Children’s Media program, as this year’s winner of the Steven DeNure Children’s Content Internship.

Awarded annually to one or two students or recent graduates from a Canadian post-secondary school who are already lined up to intern with a Canadian production or broadcasting company, the booster provides each winner with approximately US$6,500 for 12 weeks of work. The YMA covers half the funding, with the sponsoring companies putting up the other half.

Bui will intern in Toronto this summer at Lopii Productions, where she will help wrap the 20 x seven-minute second season of CBC Kids preschool series Bestest Day Ever with My Best Friend. The show, which was renewed by the Canadian pubcaster in March, lets real kids throw lavish celebrations for their best critter buddies.

Bui will also assist with research and development on upcoming Lopii projects, as well as hone her skills in writing, on-set training, social media and post-production.

A graduate from Centennial College’s Children’s Media program, Bui has a passion for kids television and play-based learning, and is keen to advance her career in these areas.

This is the second year the Steven DeNure internship has been awarded—last year’s recipients were Shanelle Simms (BP Solarpunk Media) and Tania Goncalves (Little Engine Moving Pictures). The program is funded by former WildBrain president Steven DeNure, Canadian children’s songwriter Marlowe Stone, 9 Story Media Group, CMPA, Sinking Ship Entertainment, WildBrain and Breakthrough Entertainment.