By Darren Lum
Getting a hand up in life is important for young people and the Wilberforce FUNraising Group bursary is looking to do just that with a bursary for a successful applicant.
Worth $500, the bursary will be awarded to a graduating high school student, who resides in Wilberforce and surrounding area and is pursuing post-secondary education, requiring financial assistance related to university, college or apprenticeship programs.
To be eligible, students must complete an application before the Aug. 15 deadline.
Applications will be reviewed and students that not only have achieved high academic standing, but also demonstrates creativity and community service will be considered. Successful applicants will only be contacted. Preference will be given to a student entering their first year of post-secondary education.
Kathy Rogers, who is a member of the Wilberforce FUNraising Group, said in an email that retiring principal for Wilberforce Elementary School and Cardiff Elementary School Elaine Fournier asked the community to direct gifts for her be put towards helping fund the bursary.
“Education has always been so important to Elaine, she has worked with many children over the years and how thoughtful of her to still be assisting children as she retires to enjoy some well deserved [time] off,” she wrote in an email.
Early last week, the total for the bursary was $770.
It’s made Rogers optimistic that there will be two bursaries offered like last year.
Last year, there were two bursaries worth $500 given to two students. The additional one was made possible from an anonymous donation. The money helped Haliburton Highlands Secondary School graduates Chelsea Flynn of Wilberforce and Sydney Little of Harcourt with purchasing equipment for their schooling and training.
Fournier told the Echo the FUNraising Group is doing important work for the students in Highlands East.
“This grass roots, local community based volunteer group is making a tangible difference for the students in Highlands East by providing additional funds to support post-secondary education. Post secondary education can be cost prohibitive for many students and for the students of Highlands East, even more so given our geographic location, which often necessitates travel and accommodation. I am thrilled that those wishing to honour my retirement through a donation have been so generous,” she wrote in an email.
Fournier adds the motivation for her to ask donations be given in lieu of gifts to her was “the privilege of being a part of the educational journey of so many students over the years has been a gift and I thought it only fitting to find a way to give a gift back to them upon my retirement.”
The deadline for applications is Aug. 15. All applications will reviewed by the FUNraising Group. The successful applicant will require a copy of proof of enrollment/registration before the bursary is released. For more information contact Joan Barton by phone at (705) 448-3074 or email joan4196@gmail.com
