by Jeff Larcombe
BCRPVPA Scholarship/Bursary Committee Report. Submitted by:- Jeff Larcombe
Over the years we have tried to direct scholarships to students who not only achieved a high academic standing, but who also demonstrated excellent service both in their school and community. Often such students also achieve very well in sports and/or the arts. The awards from the BCRPVPA are also available to students who may choose to enter the trades rather than attending university. In awarding the scholarships, the committee is also very aware of considering any students whose family is financially challenged.
In recent years we worked to increase the number of annual scholarships awarded from 4 annually to now “up to 10 scholarships”.
The committee has been very pleased to see the number of students applying for scholarships increase year over year. Three years ago, we had a record 35 applications for scholarships, and this year we had almost 90!
One factor that may have contributed to this increase is that students have now been able to apply on-line for the last two years!
This allowed for a more streamlined process for the selection committee. All the applications were forwarded to the committee members some two weeks or so before we met in person to complete the student selection.
All Committee members met earlier this year to streamline a system which allowed us to select the ten successful students who each receive $1000 from our Association, in record time.
In addition, we were able to select three very deserving students who each receive $1750 – funded through HearingLife.
HearingLife has been providing funding to us for the past few years, and we appreciate being able to award additional scholarships to students with this funding. The awards are based on specific criteria set out by HearingLIfe.
Here are some comments received from our recently successful applicants:-
“Thank you so much. I am so pleased to have been selected as a recipient of this scholarship! I will plan to forward the required information in the late August. Also I would be honoured to have a short write up done about my application for your newsletter and I would love to receive a copy of it.”
“I could not be more grateful for your support. This award is going to be extremely helpful as I begin my academic career and I thank everyone at BCRPVPA for their noble work of helping make students’ educational dreams a reality. I am also definitely going to reach out to HearingLife to convey my thanks and would be more than happy to have my write-up included in the newsletter.
I am very excited and once again, thank you very much.”
“Thank you so much for selecting me to receive the BCRPVPA scholarship this year! I am beyond excited and honoured to have been selected.”
“ Thank you so incredibly much for the amazing and generous scholarship. It is an honour and humbling to have been selected, and it goes a long way in realizing my future dreams. Thank you again.”
In addition to notifying the successful students of their awards, we feel it is also important to communicate with all unsuccessful applicants. These students have already been contacted.
It has been a privilege to sit as a member of the Scholarship Committee, along with Christine Johnson, Yolande Martinello, and Ian Kent. It is also very gratifying to know that our Association is supporting students in our Province financially to further their education.
