Scholarships and Bursaries

CFUW PQ provides record number of scholarships and bursaries this year

June 2024 brought an abundance of excitement for 21 local students entering or returning to institutes of higher learning. Yes, CFUW Parksville Qualicum Scholarship and Bursary Trust did it again, thanks to the overwhelming generosity of local club members, legacy gifts and donations from local benefactors. In times of inflation, high rents and increasing student fees, these awards make a big difference.

Two students from District 69 secondary schools begin their post-secondary studies, each with a $2000 scholarship. Sophie Jin from Ballenas crosses the strait to Simon Fraser University to study neurosciences while Maya Sailland from Kwalikum is off to Carleton University in Ottawa.        

As well as academic awards, the Trust is pleased to honour women who enter the trades. Rebecca Segal receives the Vancouver Island University (VIU) Red Seal Award of $2,000. The North Island College Trade Award of $1,000 will be given to a student by that college in the fall.        

Eva Wickham, entering her second year of two-year diploma program in Early Childhood Education and Care at VIU, receives the Early Childhood Education Award of $2,000 this year. She will specialize in the care and education of infants, toddlers and those with Diverse Abilities.

With a powerful boost of funds from The 100 Fine Gentlemen of Oceanside Who Give A Damn, this year the Trust awards six bursaries of $3,000 each to local women entering or returning to studies after at least a two year break. Michela Brown enters her second year of a Bachelor of Arts at VIU, majoring in psychology, with the goal of pursuing a graduate degree in counselling. Kyla Campbell begins her third year of a Bachelor of Arts at VIU and aims to bring accessible and culturally sensitive counselling services to the mid-island areas. Katherine Cearns, going into her third year of a BA at VIU, sees a career in the arts with the goal of becoming an art teacher. Geraldine Elliot enters third year of the Child and Youth Care degree program at the University of Victoria (UVic) this fall and ultimately hopes to support and improve the lives of children who have extra needs. Robin Maser Housden, equipped with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UVic and the Horticulture Technician program at VIU, enters VIU this fall for a Bachelor of Interior Design. Danica MacDonald, accepted into the Dental Hygiene program at the Canadian National Institute of Health in Ottawa, looks forward to finishing her studies and offering dental care in Canada’s new dental care program.

The James Craig Reid Scholarship of $4000, generously provided by the Reid family for many years, is awarded to Ashley Webb, who begins her sixth year of a post-baccalaureate program at VIU. Her goal is to pursue the UBC Teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Master’s degree in 2026.

This year the Trust awarded four CFUW PQ Memorial Scholarships worth $4000 each. Jillian Hibbert begins third year at VIU working towards a Bachelor of Social Work. Upon graduation, she hopes to work as a social worker in the mid-island area to support children and families. Maria Milligan heads into her final year in the McMaster Midwifery Program. She intends to join a clinic on Vancouver Island where she can provide obstetrical and family-centred health care to women in rural communities. Sophie Pawelko enters her fourth year of study in Medical Science at Dalhousie University in Halifax. After graduating next year she plans to attend UBC Medical School and ultimately to serve as a physician in a Vancouver Island community. Camryn Wheldon goes into fourth year of a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at UVic and may pursue a Master’s Degree in Occupational Therapy.

The Trust is pleased to offer five CFUW PQ Post-Graduate Scholarships this year, each worth $4000. Joyalea Carson-Austin enters second year of post-graduate studies in the Department of Biology in a soil ecology lab at UBC Okanagan. Her end goal is to work closely with the BC Living Labs project, a collective of researchers, policy makers and BC farmers seeking to integrate agricultural practices and climate solutions. Juliette Desvaux enters her Masters of Management at UBC Sauder School of Business with a goal to create an app to address communication for non-verbal dementia patients. MacKenna Jardine will attend the University of Calgary for a Masters in Public Policy. MacKenna, interested in social policies, anticipates working on a project focusing on youth homelessness and its connection to crime. Taylin Squire, having completed her Bachelor of Education at VIU, will attend Queens University for a post graduate certificate in Inclusive Education. As a teacher, she hopes to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students of all abilities. Erin Wadge heads back to Queen’s University to complete her last year in the Juris Doctor program. Her career goal involves working for an organization that advocates for those who need a strong voice.

With unexpected donations this year, the Trust presented an exceptional 21 awards totalling $67,000 to local women. Over the past 38 years, the Trust has given 300 awards –– worth more than half a million dollars –– to help local students pursue post-secondary education.

We value the altruism of local foundations, businesses and legacies that have donated to our club over the years. Generous donations and gifts help the CFUW PQ Scholarship and Bursary Trust to provide educational opportunities that benefit students and also the community as a whole. The Trust is also grateful for the support of our local CFUW PQ club members who donate generously, spread the word about the awards we offer and help with the annual book sale at Coombs. All year long we sort books that arrive at the box by Save-On-Foods in preparation for our major fund raising activity, the giant book sale, coming this October 1-5 at Coombs Fairground.

We wish the scholars well and we look forward to supporting more students in the future.