2023 Student Awards Now Open – Find an Award that Fits You!

9 February 2023Grants & Funding, News & Announcements

Our 2023 Student Awards Program is officially open for applications! 

Each year we provide hundreds of awards to local students from endowment funds and flow thru donations. This year, we have over $230,000 available to grant to local grads pursuing all kinds of post secondary opportunities. Opening Feb 1st, the Student Awards Program is open for about 3 weeks so it’s important to connect with your school counsellor to get your applications in as soon as possible. Recipients are chosen in April and students receive notification at their convocation ceremonies in June. If you’re a grade 12 student graduating from any of the following schools, you can apply for up to 10 student awards to help with the cost of your post-secondary education.

• Abbotsford Senior Secondary
• Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA)
• Abbotsford Traditional Secondary
• Abbotsford Virtual School
• Bakerview Centre for Learning
• Mennonite Educational Institute (MEI)
• Rick Hansen Secondary
• Robert Bateman Secondary
• W.J. Mouat Secondary
• Yale Secondary

Along with our generous donors, we recognize the importance of supporting tomorrow’s leaders and helping students in realizing their dreams by providing support through different types of awards for different kinds of students. Here are the four types of awards we offer:

Beyond these four categories, we have an award for every type of student. From awards for athletes, to awards for students with disabilities, to awards for musicians, we aim to support all types of students through our Student Awards Program. Our Student Awards Program Directory categorize awards so students can easily find awards suitable to their interests. Below are just some of the awards available to students in a range of fields and areas of study. You don’t have to have a 4.0 GPA to qualify; many of our donors understand the varied needs and talents of local youth and want to ensure that every young person has an opportunity to move on to post secondary education if they wish.

Want to pursue music, dance or other arts school? Check out the Legacy Productions bursary. 

Legacy Productions Bursary
Type of Award: Bursary
Focus: Performing Arts 
Criteria: N/A
Available to Students of: ASD & MEI 
1 Award: $500  

Groove Force Productions is a performing arts company dedicated to promoting local talent while entertaining audiences in Abbotsford. Groove Force is offering an award to a graduating student who is developing their craft in the performing arts including theatre, acting, dance, voice, and music. The student must be planning to continue post-secondary education in one of these related fields. The preferred recipient will have school-based or community performing arts experience and must provide documentation to support their application. 

Interested in studying agriculture after grad? Check out the Jerry Alamwala Memorial scholarship. 

Jerry Alamwala Memorial
Type of Award: Scholarship
Focus: Agriculture
Criteria: Agriculture-related field
Available to Students of: ASD & MEI
1 Award: $1,000

Jerry Alamwala had a passion for Agriculture and Education. Through his hard work, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit, he developed one of North America’s largest Berry and Brussels Sprout Operations. His progressive thinking and intelligence helped shape the agricultural industry to what it is today. In 2012, Jerry Alamwala tragically lost his life in his fields doing what he loved, and his legacy will remain forever. This award shall be granted to Grade 12 students that share Jerry’s passion to pursue an education in Agriculture. The prospective recipients must be intending to continue their education at a post-secondary institution in agriculture or an agriculture-related field and has demonstrated academic achievements and community and/or school service. 

Want to get into the trades and get your ticket/Red Seal certification? Check out the Overlanders Manufacturing scholarship.

Overlanders Manufacturing
Type of Award: Scholarship
Focus: Trades
Criteria: n/a
General Available to Students of: ASD & MEI
1 Award: $1,000

Overlanders Manufacturing LP has been providing custom sheet metal fabrication in Abbotsford for 30+ years. Although Overlanders invests in the most technologically advanced equipment, they believe it is the people they employ that makes the company so successful. Overlanders Manufacturing believes strongly in the Industry Training and Apprenticeship program and it dedicated to contributing to our community. Overlanders Manufacturing will provide one award to a student graduating in the Abbotsford School District. Only students choosing to pursue a career at a post-secondary institution relating to a trades program will be considered.   

Are the STEM fields something you want to pursue in post-secondary? Check out the Geoff Cowell Memorial scholarship. 

Geoff Cowell Memorial
Type of Award: Scholarship
Focus: Science/Math
Criteria: Top Science?Math Student
Available to Students of: WJM
1 Award: $750

Geoff Cowell was one of W. J. Mouat’s original teachers when the school first opened in September 1973. At W.J.M., Geoff taught science and math for 24 years, retiring in 1998. Geoff Cowell inspired his students to think “outside the box”. A mentor to physics teachers throughout BC, Geoff’s passion created an exciting atmosphere in his physics classroom where learning was fun, stimulating and, yet, demanding. Students loved him for his empathetic nature and pleasant demeanor. His real legacy lies with the thousands of students that he inspired to achieve their potential by stirring each student’s love of learning. These scholarships shall be awarded to the top graduating W. J. Mouat Math/Science students.

Do you have a disability, whether visible or hidden, and want to pursue a post-secondary program? Check out the Marion de Wit Memorial award.

Marion de Wit Memorial
Type of Award: General
Focus: Education
Criteria: Learning disability
Available to Students of: AS
1 Award: $500

Marion de Wit, an inspirational educator and a visionary leader who actively supported learners especially those with learning difficulties will be sadly missed. Her colleagues and students will always remember with fondness her caring, love, courage, tenacity, creativity and commitment. In her memory, Marion’s family, professional colleagues and friends have established the Marion de Wit Memorial Endowment Fund to assist graduating students planning to pursue further studies in the field of teacher education. The recipient must be going into teaching and must have a learning disability, be attending Abbotsford Senior and show perseverance, attitude, and commitment. 

Are you of Indigenous, Metis or Inuit heritage and looking to pursue post-secondary education? Check out this award for those interested in Trades, STEM, or Culinary programs. 

Linda Marie (Busch) Jacobsen Memorial
Type of Award: Scholarship/Bursary
Focus: Trades/STEM/Culinary
Criteria: Community Involvement, Trades, STEM fields or Culinary training
Available to Students of: ASD
2 Awards: $500 for all students, $500 award for a student with Indigenous or Metis heritage*

Linda Jacobsen (nee Busch) was born in Port Coquitlam to a large family and was the oldest of 9 children. She overcame cultural biases against women working outside the home, poverty, witnessed the emergence of space travel, commercial air travel, computers, cell phones, the internet and many more advances. Linda’s love of learning was evident in everything she did, and her determination to learn and push past barriers was only outmatched by her love and dedication to her family. Her children grew up learning how to bake and cook at an early age and now share her love of food and the science behind it. Linda passed away suddenly in 2020 from lung cancer, and her daughter Tricia started this memorial award in the hopes to help students reach their dreams and to celebrate Linda’s love of learning.

Interested in getting into medicine, nursing, dentistry or vet school? Check out this award for those interested in nursing. 

Vicky Bach Memorial Nursing Award
Type of Award: Scholarship
Focus: Nursing
Criteria: Creativity & Academics
Available to Students of: ASD & MEI
1 Award: $1,000

Vicky Bach embarked on a career in healthcare after the birth of her first child, beginning as a certified prenatal teacher and then earning her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from McMaster University in 1993. At age 55 she earned her Master of Science degree from McMaster. A year later she and husband Josh moved to Abbotsford where she joined Fraser Health as a Clinical Nurse Specialist with expertise in gerontology, medicine, and palliative care. This award is for a student pursuing a university degree in Nursing, who has demonstrated academic excellence. This award is meant to recognize a student who shares Vicky’s talent for being creative. Specifically, the student must be able to demonstrate how they have improved something by being innovative. 

Are athletics your thing? Want to pursue sports as part of your post-secondary experience? Check out the Ledgeview Legacy award for those who are junior golfers. 

Ledgeview Legacy
Type of Award: Scholarship/Bursary
Focus: Academic
Criteria: Golf
Available to Students of: ASD & MEI
2 Awards: $1,000 each

This fund is in memory of Dick Inman, past President of Ledgeview Golf Course 1977-1978. The bursary shall be awarded to a graduating junior golfer who exemplifies good sportsmanship, citizenship and has helped introduce others to the sport. Selection of this bursary recipient will also be based on academic achievement, financial need, and the intention of furthering their education at a post-secondary institution. 

Not sure what you want to specialize in just yet? Are you more of a generalist? We have general awards that focus on areas such as volunteerism and service to our community. Check out the Abbotsford Lions Club award.

Abbotsford Lions Club
Type of Award: General
Focus: Community Service
Criteria: Volunteer
Available to Students of: ASD & MEI
9 Awards: $1,000 each

The Abbotsford Lions Club is a member of the world’s largest service organization and has been serving our community since 1944. Since its beginning, the Club has maintained a continuing response to community needs of every kind. These awards are available to students graduating from any of the participating schools. Preference will be given to applicants who have volunteered for an organization serving Abbotsford outside of any school sponsored volunteer service activity. 

Are you strong academic student? Check out the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce award. 

Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce
Type of Award: Scholarship
Focus: Community Service
Criteria: *Member or Student Member
Available to Students of: ASD & MEI
2 Awards: $1,000 each

The Chamber of Commerce has been serving Abbotsford since 1913. As the voice of business, the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce seeks to represent, connect and serve its members to build and sustain a thriving business community. This award is presented to a graduating student from the participating schools. The recipient must be proceeding to a Canadian post-secondary institution, graduate with a GPA of a C+ or better and be a Canadian citizen. Criteria: *Preference will be given to a child of a Chamber member or to a Chamber of Commerce student member.

This is just a sample of the many different types of awards we offer. Just because you may not have a 4.0 GPA or you’re not a star athlete, doesn’t mean there isn’t an award for you. To see the full list and learn more about applying for a student award, click here.

And remember, application packages are due to your school counsellor by 3:30 pm on Thursday, February 23, 2023!