College Heights Grade 12 student Shaylynne Keffer has been awarded a Beedie Luminaries scholarship of up to $40,000.
Ryan Beedie, through his foundation, Beedie Luminaries, awarded $6.2 million in scholarships to 140 Grade 12 students and 17 single parents in B.C. This is the largest number of scholarships that Beedie Luminaries has awarded at one time since it was established four years ago.
“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,” said 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.”
The Beedie Luminaries scholarship program supports 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. These scholarships recognize students’ resilience and resolve while lowering the financial barriers to pursuing a post-secondary education.
In addition to those attending university, a number of recipients will be attending trade school or vocational training to learn everything from animal health and forestry management to computer science and 3D animation.
This year’s Grade 12 recipients come from 81 high schools in 30 communities, with 38 per cent being the first in their immediate family to pursue post-secondary education and 55 per cent coming from single-parent or legal guardian families.
“Without a Beedie Luminaries scholarship, I would have probably had to give up on my lifelong dream of becoming a pilot,” says Ekta Dass, a Beedie Luminaries scholarship recipient from Surrey. “Not only will this scholarship help me, it will also inspire my two younger sisters to follow their dreams as well.”
In addition to financial assistance of up to $40,000 per student, recipients are also paired with mentors, and offered paid work opportunities, Stay on Track student support, invitations to special events and access to the Beedie Luminaries online community.
Beedie Luminaries also provides scholarships, through their SPARK (Single Parent Awards for Resilience and Knowledge) Program, to single parents in B.C. who want to pursue further education. In 2022, the program will grant 17 scholarships also worth up to $40,000 each to single parents facing financial adversity.
Beedie Luminaries launched on November 13, 2018, with a $50-million donation from Ryan Beedie that coincided with his 50th birthday. To date, the program has awarded 487 scholarships to students across the province.
Students who are interested in applying to be part of next year’s cohort are encouraged to follow Beedie Luminaries on social media or visit beedieluminaries.ca. The application period for the 2023 cohort will open in fall 2022.