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Beedie awards scholarships to Delta/Surrey students

Ryan Beedie gives $6.9 million in scholarships to 156 B.C. students

Ryan Beedie, through his foundation, Beedie Luminaries, is awarding $6.9 million in scholarships worth up to $44,000 each to 116 Grade 12 students, 10 refugee and immigrant students and 20 single parents in B.C.

For the first time, the foundation is also awarding 10 Graduate Studies Awards of up to $50,000 to previous Beedie Luminaries scholarship recipients who have finished their undergraduate degrees and are now pursuing graduate or second-entry undergraduate studies.

“This year we have the special honour of not only welcoming a new cohort of promising, hard-working students to the Beedie Luminaries program, including the first cohort of RISE (Refugee and Immigrant Student Education) Awards, but also celebrating Beedie Luminaries from the inaugural cohort of 2019 as they graduate from their post-secondary programs,” said Beedie. “It has been inspiring to see the success that this talented and determined group of young people has achieved over the past four years. I can’t wait to see what they will accomplish as they move forward to the next chapter of their lives.”

The Beedie Luminaries Grade 12 scholarship program provides students who demonstrate strong academic potential and determination, but face financial barriers to attending post-secondary, with up to $44,000 each over four years as well as access to mentors, student coaches, paid internships and ongoing support from the Beedie Luminaries community.

This year’s Grade 12 recipients come from 67 high schools in 29 communities, with 41 per cent being the first in their immediate family to pursue post-secondary education and 60 per cent coming from single-parent or legal guardian families. In addition to university, a number of students will use the funds to attend trade school and vocational training.

The students from Delta/Surrey are:

Diane Valencia (Delta) – Delview Secondary who will be attending Douglas College.

Kristian Rod Cabico Jr. (Delta) – North Delta Secondary who will be attending SFU.

Deepika Ramola (Surrey) – North Delta Secondary who will be attending UBC.

Erin Zheng (Surrey) – Seaquam Secondary who will be attending UBC.

“I am truly grateful and honoured to be a recipient of a Beedie Luminaries scholarship,” said Valencia. “The huge help that this scholarship provides for my education means so much to me and my family. I can now go to the schools that I have always dreamed of.”

Originally launched on Nov. 13, 2018 with a $50-million donation from Beedie that coincided with his 50th birthday, Beedie Luminaries has awarded 625 scholarships to B.C. Grade 12, single parent, refugee and graduate students to date.

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 2024 cohort will open in fall 2023.