South Okanagan Community Foundation distributes $46,000 in bursaries

Over $46,000 in bursaries are being distributed to 22 local students by the Community Foundation of the South Okanagan-Similkameen for 2018.

This year, six different endowment funds granted bursaries to local students of all ages.

The endowment funds have been created by donors who believe in the value of education and its power to improve quality of life for an individual and their family, said Aaron McRann, executive director of the CFOS.

“We had an overwhelming amount of applicants to our bursary program this year,” said McRann. “We had almost triple the amount of applicants from the previous year.”

Dr. John & Kathy Scarfo Fund bursaries granted each of 13 students over $3, 000. These bursaries were awarded to students who live an active and healthy lifestyle and are pursuing education in an effort to improve life for themselves and their families: Elizabeth Bent, Laxmi Dangol, Payton Pozzobon, Autumn Cork-Evans, Petra Holler, Christina Boomer, Seanna Zintel, Lara Payne, Laura Doherty, Arianna Johnstone, Alexandria Johnstone, Amanda Watt and Jena Riches.

The Sharon Amos Legacy Fund for the Arts was established after the death of well-known community leader, Sharon Amos. This fund awarded $1,000 bursaries to three students who are pursuing an education in the arts: Micaela Humeny, Josephine Kay, Sasha Mandaione.

In 2013, an anonymous donor from the area established the South Okanagan Aboriginal Bursary Fund supporting local aboriginal students. Shortly after the announcement of this new Fund, another anonymous donor came forward and donated an additional $10,000 to the bursary fund. This year four local students are the recipients of this bursary fund for just over $400 each: Elizabeth Bent, Kalezafar Lawrence, Lyndzie Caron and Melissa Michels.

There were three new awards introduced in 2018. The Culver Family Bursary Fund was established to support students entering their second year of humanities. Kaya Colangeli is the first recipient and was awarded $1,200 toward her post-secondary schooling.

The Lynn & Brian Jackson Endowment for Fine Arts was established with a $500 bursary to support students who are pursuing an education in fine arts programs. The first recipient of this award was Wynn Nordlund.

The Okanagan Chito-Ryo Society Bursary Fund was established by the society to support students in the South Okanagan who are current or past members of the Okanagan Chito-Ryu Society. The recipient of this award is Simonka Slizek.

“I encourage everyone to reapply next year when the bursary funding cycle opens again in March of 2019,” said McRann.