Paper Excellence announced it has partnered with Vancouver Island University to create a new scholarship fund that aims to financially support Indigenous students enrolled in trades programs. Paper Excellence has contributed $60,000 to the fund, which will be distributed over three years.
“On behalf of Paper Excellence, we are very excited to be working with VIU on the Paper Excellence Indigenous Success Fund to support Indigenous students in British Columbia,” said Graham Kissack, vice president, EHS & Corporate Communications for Paper Excellence. “It’s our pleasure to help make the experience at VIU just a little bit easier financially and want to wish the recipients of the fund all the best in their studies and future careers.”
Indigenous trades students will be eligible to receive up to $2,000 each academic year through the fund, which began disbursements to students in January 2022.
“VIU thanks Paper Excellence for this generous gift,” said Richard Horbachewski, executive director of the VIU Foundation. “This gift will support students who are on the verge of not being able to continue their studies due to financial constraints. Paper Excellence is supporting students when they need it the most. These scholarships offer support in a timely and effective manner, so students don’t have to put their dreams on pause when personal circumstances throw barriers in their path.”
The Paper Excellence Indigenous Success Fund at VIU is one of several scholarship and bursary funds Paper Excellence has supported at post-secondary institutions around Canada, along with similar partnerships at College of the Rockies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.