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Burnaby graduates rake in $6.8 million in scholarships

Many of Burnaby School District graduates are celebrating significant scholarship wins. Almost $6.8 million – and still counting – has been awarded to them so far.

Many of Burnaby School District graduates are celebrating significant scholarship wins. Almost $6.8 million – and still counting – has been awarded to them so far.  

From large to small, every dollar from scholarships helps students achieve their post-secondary dreams.

Of special mention, Burnaby South Secondary student Susan Chung was awarded the prestigious Schulich Award, which comes with a whopping $80,000 UBC entrance scholarship. 

Byrne Creek student Arnauld Alandou was awarded a 2020 Cmolik Scholarship of up to $40,000 for demonstrating tenacity and academic ability while facing adversity.

Ryan Beedie, a Moscrop Secondary School alumnus, handed out more of his Beedie Luminaries scholarships this year than ever before in response to the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a news release.

And plenty of Burnaby students received them.

Now in its third year, the scholarship program, of which Beedie is the founder and principal benefactor, was originally set to award 105 scholarships but gave out 128 instead.

These were the Burnaby students who received one are: Abedah Siddiqui, Ruby Beach, Soniya Huda, Saroj Shah, Sarra Pirmohamed, Hennisha Elsom-Pettersson, Annette Lee, Liam Taylor, Christina Nieh, Minjin Kim, Gabreal Sarnoh, Emily Chan, Sophia Davita Cockram, Katelynn Dang, Ashley U, Lexi Hildebrand, Yeva Kutuzova, Azzam Haq, Qods Al-Azaizeh and Avery Chan.

The scholarships are worth up to $40,000 each.

More than 70% of this year’s recipients live in rental or social housing, 48% come from single-parent or foster families, and 26% are first-generation post-secondary students in their families.

  • With files from Cornelia Naylor