128 British Columbia students join Cohort 2020 and receive scholarships of up to $40,000 each to pursue their post-secondary education at universities, colleges, and trade schools in B.C.
VANCOUVER, June 16, 2020 – Ryan Beedie, through his foundation, Beedie Luminaries, is increasing the number of students receiving scholarships this year from the expected 105 to 128. Beedie Luminaries provides up to $40,000 each to resilient students across the province who face financial adversity.
“We received an overwhelming number of great applications from deserving students and it was hard to narrow down our selection to the anticipated 105, knowing the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on families and employment opportunities for young people and their parents,” says Ryan Beedie on his decision to increase the scholarships by an additional 23 students. “We wanted to extend our support to as many deserving students as possible,” continues Beedie, “as we believe that personal and financial hardship should not stop talented British Columbians from pursuing higher education and realizing their full potential.”
In addition to financial adversity, the recipients demonstrated resilience, grit, academic readiness, and the determination to succeed – with many sharing compelling personal stories of overcoming challenges. Over 70 per cent of this year’s recipients live in rental or social housing, 48 per cent come from single-parent or foster families, and 26 per cent are first-generation post-secondary students in their family.
“Becoming one of the Beedie Luminaries has presented me with such a great opportunity for achieving my future dreams, and for that I am forever grateful,” shares Michal Oqbe, a 2020 Beedie Luminaries scholarship recipient who is also a first-generation university student in her family. “With this scholarship, I can positively influence my younger siblings but most importantly change the world!”
Beedie Luminaries launched on November 13, 2018, with a $50-million donation from Ryan Beedie, which coincided with his 50th birthday. In its first year, the program awarded 80 scholarships to students in Metro Vancouver. This year, the program expanded province-wide with recipients from 25 communities across B.C.
Housam Tarrach, another 2020 Beedie Luminaries student, planning on attending the University of Victoria in the fall, notes “Coming from Syria and starting a new life in Canada I would have never thought that attending university was a possibility, still I always looked up for people who had the chance of attending university and wished I could be one of them. The cheerfulness that you have brought me and my family when we received the acceptance letter was truly indescribable.”
In addition to financial assistance of up to $40,000 per student, recipients are also paired with mentors, and offered paid summer internship opportunities, Stay on Track student support, invitations to special events and access to the Beedie Luminaries online community.
If you are entering Grade 12 and interested in applying to be part of next year’s Beedie Luminaries, follow Beedie Luminaries on social media platforms or visit beedieluminaries.ca. The application period for the 2021 cohort will open in fall 2020.
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