Scholarships and bursaries weren’t presented in the same manner to Chemainus Secondary School 2020 grads, but the money still got into the right hands and will be put to good use for post-secondary education.
Representatives of the various donor groups couldn’t be present for the grad ceremony due to COVID-19 restrictions. But all were pleased to provide students with the much-needed funding for their efforts, even if it was done in spirit only.
As students received their certificates during the grad ceremony, it was announced what awards each had won.
Valedictorian Dyson Blitterswyk made an impressive haul of $13,550 from 10 different awards. He received the Chemainus Secondary School PAC Bursary ($500), Crofton Catalyst ($1,000), CUPE Local #5101 Mid Island School Employees Bursary ($500), Chemainus Legion Branch 191 Bursary ($1,000), Chemainus Rotary Club Jessie Price Memorial Bursary ($200), Chemainus Rotary Scholarship ($2,500), School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250), Tom Walker Forest Legacy Fund Bursary from the District of North Cowichan ($600), University of Victoria Faculty of Engineering: Dean’s Entrance Scholarship ($2,500) and the University of Victoria President’s Entrance Scholarship ($3,500).
Steven Wong’s total of $8,700 came from the Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary Bursary ($5,000), Chemainus Health Care Foundation Scholarship ($1,500), Chemainus Legion Branch #191 Fine Arts Bursary ($1,000) and School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250).
Hannah Horsman was awarded $7,400 from the Canadian Federation of University Women Cowichan Valley Scholarship ($1,000), Chemainus Firefighters Bursary ($500), Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary Bursary ($5,000), Cowichan Valley Division of Family Practice Bursary ($500) and Crofton Elementary Merri Lau Memorial Bursary ($400).
Javier Guzman was rewarded with a Chemainus Health Care Auxiliary Bursary ($5,000).
Awards made to Jamie Steel that totalled $4,500 were: the Eagles Auxiliary #4400 Bursary ($1,000), Friends of Devon Sanchez ($250), School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250) and Wilfred Laurier University Entrance Scholarship ($2,000).
The five awards that made up Mary MacWatt’s $4,350 total included: the Col. R. M. Lendrum Bursary - Cowichan Valley Teachers Union ($1,500), CVRD Saltair Community Award ($500), Lloyd Gardner Cowichan Valley Retired Teachers’ Association Bursary ($1,000), School District 79 Scholarship ($1, 250) and Shannon McClelland-Miller Bursary ($100).
Several other students in the class received awards that totalled in excess of $3,000.
Kyle Brown was given $3,750 from the Cowichan Valley Minor Hockey Association Scholarship ($500), Eagles Auxiliary #4400 Bursary ($1,000), Manfred Maier Bursary ($500) and Paige Whitelaw Memorial Bursary ($750).
Miriam Holmes was the recipient of $3,600 from the Chemainus Secondary Performing Arts Bursary ($250), Chemainus Secondary School PAC Bursary ($500), Cowichan Valley Principal and Vice Principal Association Award ($500), Don and Dorothy Craig Memorial Bursary ($1,000), School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250) and Shannon McClelland-Miller Bursary ($100).
Four awards provided Amanda Untalan with a total of $3,500: the Chemainus Secondary Concert Band Bursary ($300), Duncan Elks Lodge ($1,000), Eagles Auxiliary #4400 Bursary ($1,000) and School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250).
For Tristram Nisbet, his total of $3,500 included: the Brock McLeod Memorial Bursary ($500), Chemainus Health Care Foundation Bursary ($1,500), Crofton Catering Group Bursary - Crofton Community Centre Society ($1,000) and Crofton Seniors Society Bursary ($500).
Peri Pickel was honoured with $3,250 from the Chemainus Seniors Centre Bursary ($1,000), Nessie Vye Memorial Bursary - Crofton Community Centre ($1,000), Paige Whitelaw Memorial Bursary ($750) and Chemainus Secondary School PAC Bursary ($500).
Kendall Smith’s total of $3,100 included: the Chemainus Doctors’ Health Sciences Scholarship ($750), School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250), Crofton Catering Group Bursary - Crofton Community Centre Society ($1,000) and the Shannon McClelland-Miller Bursary ($100).
Andrea Brooks earned $3,100 from the Chemainus Seniors Drop In Centre Bursary ($1,000), Crofton Catalyst ($1,000), Crofton Seniors Society Bursary ($500), Shannon McClelland-Miller Bursary ($100) and WEX Bursary ($500).
Others receiving awards were:
Jordynn Jany – $2,300 from the Chemainus Rotary Club John Dove Memorial Bursary ($1,500), Chemainus Masonic Lodge ($500) and Chemainus Rotary Club John Dove Memorial Bursary ($300).
Ryan McMahon – $2,100 from the Hugo Lebitschnig Memorial Bursary - Crofton Community Centre Society ($2,000) and Shannon McClelland-Miller Bursary ($100).
Mariann Seward – $1,600 from Crofton Catalyst ($1,000), Dogwood Trefoil Guild Bursary ($300) and THESA ($300).
Mark Harris – $1,500 from the 49th Parallel Grocery Chemainus Bursary ($500), Chemainus Elementary PAC Bursary ($250) and Family and Friends of Ryan Clark Memorial Bursary ($750).
Aarissa Jack – $1,500 from the Beta Sigma Phi Sorority Bursary ($500) and Crofton Catalyst ($1,000).
Wei-Ling Taylor – Chemainus Health Care Foundation Bursary ($1,500).
Ethan Maxon – School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250).
Aidan Mott – School District 79 Scholarship ($1,250).
Beth Pender – Alexander Wilson Bursary ($1,000).
Graham Irving – Chemainus Rotary Club Larry Nancarrow Memorial Bursary ($400).
Cheyenne Oud – Crofton Elementary Merri Lau Memorial Bursary ($400).
Mason Shiell – Chemainus Elementary PAC Bursary ($250).
Berk Bohmer – Shannon McClelland-Miller Bursary ($100).