The impact of donor generosity ripples across the region’s post-secondary landscape with individual lives changed through the shared power of education.
The Selkirk College Foundation held its annual Donor Tea in February at the Tenth Street Campus in Nelson, bringing together those dedicated to building a lasting impact with the students who are on a journey towards rewarding career opportunities. Donors, students and college staff gathered for wonderful afternoon of connecting and storytelling.
“This generous contribution and support of our education is so important,” said Amelie Hebert-Chaput, a second-year student in the Contemporary Music & Technology Program. “I am truly touched that we can benefit from your philanthropy, your values and from what you think is important for future generations. This enables us to study, work hard and give back to the community too. With such generosity, we get more learning opportunities, more volunteering and see more community actions from the bottom-up come to life.”
The Selkirk College Foundation is committed to supporting equal and accessible higher education across the region. In the last school year, the foundation awarded 287 scholarships to 243 students and 719 bursaries to 235 students. The total amount provided to learners across all programs amounted to $775,000.
Farrah Marzicola grew up in Nelson and graduated from LV Rogers Secondary. Now in the first-year of the Forest Technology Program based out of the Castlegar Campus, she told those gathered that the bursaries have made it much easier to navigate through the demands of being a full-time student.
“I have always loved learning and am very grateful for the assistance that has been provided me,” Marzicola said. “I’m really passionate about the outdoors and the environment, especially old growth forests. I am really hoping to help make a difference in how we are managing our stewardship of the forests and making the practices more sustainable.”
A recipient of the Paul Mastalir & Walter Varasovsky TIP Scholarship, Nikhil Lakhanpal graduated from the Postgradaute Culinary Management Program in December. Lakhanpal told donors that despite graduating with a bachelor’s degree in India, he felt lost in the crowd and wanted to make a fresh start on his academics in a new country.
“When I got to Canada, I knew that I needed to do justice to myself, my education and my parents,” he said. “I knew that I could do much better than back in India. I worked really hard and aced my post-grad, and I am proud to say that. It’s a very proud to moment to stand here because it is more than my own hard work, the support that the entire community has shown and the support from my instructors… it’s just outstanding.”
Like many international students, Lakhanpal faced numerous challenges while adjusting to a new culture so far from where he grew up. The support received helped illustrate the kindness he had heard so much about in Canada.
“It’s not just the financial assistance, but the more important part is that there is a moment of my life where I can feel good about myself and feel validated,” said Lakhanpal. “I would like to thank the entire donor community for realizing how important it is to not only show the financial support, but for understanding that it would make an individual feel more accepted and inspire them to give back to the community that gave them an anchor in this ocean we are all in.”
A second-year student in the Rural Pre-Medicine Program, Grace Cline is the recipient of the Ann & Peter Wood Biology Scholarship. Cline told those at the Donor Tea that her father passed away when she was 16 and the tragedy forced her to endure more struggles than most of her peers.
“There are many things in my life that inspire me to pursue this pathway,” Cline said. “The most influential being my incredibly driven mom who has worked so hard to get me where I am today. Her actions have taught me how to stay determined, ambitious and most importantly stay patient because goals like mine don’t always have a linear pathway.”
An active student leader on campus and beyond, Cline has a long educational road ahead to achieve her goal of becoming a physician. Growing up in Pass Creek and graduating high school from Castlegar’s Stanley Humphries Secondary, Cline said scholarships and bursaries are essential for her to be successful.
“I have been given a chance to focus on my studies rather than worry about how to pay my tuition,” she said. “Because of this, I am able to participate in volunteering, leadership skill building and helping the community. Through this support, I am not just one step closer to med school, but I am one step closer to building a future. I am growing, preparing and learning to give back… just like all of you have given to me. Thank you for investing in education, for believing in students and for making our dreams a reality. Your selflessness doesn’t just change lives, it creates ripples that will impact generations to come. Your kindness is making a difference one student at a time.”
Learn more about becoming a donor through the Selkirk College Foundation.
Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all.
