Two local students will receive “life-changing” scholarships to be able to attend post-secondary in the fall.
The $44,000 Beedie Luminaries scholarships were awarded to Squamish-local Shahd Kizawi, who attended Howe Sound Secondary, and Isaiah Lovegrove of Salmon Arm, B.C. who attended Whistler Secondary.
This year, Beedie Luminaries has distributed $7.4 million in scholarships to B.C. students, including to14 refugees and immigrant students as well as to 27 single parents.
"Receiving a Beedie Luminaries scholarship is a life-changing experience for me,” said Kizawi in a news release.
According to Ryan Beedie—who founded the organization in 2018 with a $5-million donation for his 50th birthday—he believes cost should not be a prohibitive factor in trying to obtain an education.
”We are trying to level the playing field and provide more students facing barriers with opportunities to reach new heights that may seem otherwise impossible,” he said in the release.
"I am incredibly grateful for the Beedie Luminaries scholarship. It has lifted a huge financial burden off my shoulders and is allowing me to pursue my dreams with peace of mind,” said Lovegrove in the release.
Both Kizawi and Lovegrove are recipients under the foundation's Shine (Soaring Higher In Education) scholarship program. The scholarships are awarded to Grade 12 students who are facing significant financial barriers to attending university. In addition to the financial support, recipients receive mentorship student success managers, peer support groups, and access to paid internships.
“It is not just financial support, it is also a community of like-minded individuals who inspire and support each other,” said Kizawi. “This scholarship means an opportunity for growth, learning, and a chance to pursue my academic and personal goals with a strong support system behind me.”
