There is still time to make a contribution to the 2014 Kettle Valley Bursary and Scholarship (KVSBS) fund, says society president Leslie Walker.
Each spring graduating students are briefed on the available scholarships and bursaries and the criteria under which they are awarded. Students are required to make application for the awards.
KVSBS technical and vocational awards are given to the top students who will attend a technical or a trade school next year.
KVSBS academic awards are given to students who plan to attend a university or college and graduate with a degree. The percentages are determined by averaging the marks received in Grades 11 and 12 in seven academic courses.
The marks are tallied and the society directors meet a few days before the graduation ceremonies to divide the amount generously given by the community between the different awards. The society makes allocation decisions based on the marks alone; the names of the students are not known by the committee until after all award recipients have been determined.
The society welcomes donations of any amount. “No amount is too small,” says Walker. “The more we receive the more we can contribute to our graduates.”
The smallest donations are added to the largest to help the West Boundary send BCSS grads off to begin their postsecondary education.
There are other bursaries and scholarships given by community groups, service clubs and businesses each year.
One bursary which didn’t attract any applicants from BCSS last year was the Boundary Women’s Softball League’s $250 award for a graduating female student involved in sports (one given to a BCSS grad and another to a grad from GFSS).
League organizers want to make sure it is known that the bursary is out there and they welcome applicants.
To make a donation to the scholarship and bursary fund contact Leslie Walker at 250-449-2172; or mail it to KVSBS, Box 362, Midway, B.C. V0H 1M0. KVSBS members Vicki Gee, Rose Zitko, John Condon and Marguerite Rotvold can also provide information.
Commencement ceremonies will take place this year on Saturday, June 14 at the Midway Arena.