College Heights Secondary School student Shaylynne Keffer was one 140 B.C. Grade 12 students to receive a scholarship for up to $40,000.
West Vancouver real estate developer Ryan Beedie created the scholarship in 2018 to support students “who not only demonstrate strong academic potential, but are also involved in their communities and have faced life challenges and adversity with determination and optimism,” a statement issued by the Beedie Luminaries foundation.
“Year after year, I am amazed and inspired by the sheer number of bright, driven and highly engaged students who apply to the Beedie Luminaries program and the promise that they show,” says Ryan Beedie. “I am elated to be able to extend our support to more students than ever before so that even more talented British Columbians can pursue higher education and reach their full potential.”
According to the foundation, 38 per cent of this year’s recipients are the first in their immediate family to pursue post-secondary education and 55 per cent come from single-parent or legal guardian families. In addition to the 140 Grade 12 students, 17 single parents were also awarded the scholarship.
In addition to financial assistance of up to $40,000, Keffer and her peers will be paired with mentors, offered paid work opportunities, student support, invitations to special events and access to the foundation’s online community.
Beedie established the scholarship on his 50th birthday on Nov. 13, 2018 with a $50 million donation.
As of this year, the program has awarded 487 scholarships to students across B.C.
