Over $37,000 in bursaries is available from the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan Similkameen for students who graduated in the past five years.
The CFSOS has expanded its educational awards program and is now offering bursaries ranging from $250 to $6,000. Bursaries are financial-need-based awards that do not rely on academic achievements nor have to be repaid.
“There are five different endowment funds that will be offering bursaries to local students of all ages. These endowment funds have been created by local donors who believe in the value of education and its power to improve quality of life for an individual and their family. Each endowment fund has certain specifications about who they want their funds to be awarded to,” said Aaron McRann, executive director of the CFSOS.
The Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts was established after the death of well-known community leader, Sharon Amos. The fund awards bursaries to students pursuing education in music and arts, preferably performing arts. Local students have been awarded $8,400 since its creation in 2010.
The Dr. John & Kathy Scarfo Bursary Fund awards to students who live an active and healthy lifestyle and who are pursuing education in an effort to improve life for themselves and their families. In 2015, this fund awarded four $6,000 bursaries.
The South Okanagan Aboriginal Education Fund was established in 2013 by anonymous donors from the area. Another anonymous donor came forward and gave an additional $10,000 to the bursary fund.
Thea Haubrich was a leading practitioner and promoter of Encaustic Art. The endowment fund in her name was established with the goal of providing ongoing financial support to artists, with a focus on encaustic art, wanting to further their education.
The Okanagan Fest of Ale Bursary Fund provides bursaries to students pursing second year of post-secondary education in the brewing industry or intermediate level, accredited online courses in the brewing industry.
For more information, specific funding criteria, and application forms, please visit the Community Foundation’s website at www.cfso.net. The deadline for applications is April 18, 2016.