Keith McNeill
As usual, the community came through generously, with a total of $38,100 being given away during the commencement ceremonies held at Clearwater Secondary School on Friday evening.
This compares with nearly $54,000 last year, $41,000 the year before, and $33,850 given out in 2014 (not all scholarships and bursaries are given out during commencement and so it is sometimes difficult to compare one year with another).
Stacia Panko wins the most
Top scholarship and bursary winner was Stacia Panko, who took home a total of $8,750. Her winnings included the $4,000 TRU President’s Entrance Scholarship, the School District Authority – Community Service award of $1,250, the Cleaveley/Fus bursary of $1,000, Etsek Environmental Sciences, $500; Rotary, $500; Rod and Gun, $500; and Xi Epsilon, $250.
Second place went to Hanna Wadlegger, whose total of $8,250 included a Girl Guide national scholarship of $2,000. She also received one of two Donna Akers-Sjodin memorial bursaries worth $500 from Clearwater and District Minor Hockey.
Naming the minor hockey bursary after Akers-Sjodin, who recently passed away, was appropriate as she helped many of the grads as they played hockey, said association president Ole Kjenstad.
Wadlegger’s other awards included Clearwater and Vavenby Legion, $1000; Wadlegger Logging, $1000; Skye and Courtney Buck, $750; D. Giesbrecht, $500; Estsek, $500; Bill Sedgwick, $250; District Authority – International Languages, $1250; and Clearwater Dental,$500.
Mac Alain was in third spot with a total of $6,300 in scholarships and bursaries. These included Lions, $250; TNRD, $1000; Cleaveley/Fus, $1000; Rotary, $500; Hospital Auxiliary, $1000; Times, $300; Eta Omicron, $1000; Royal Purple, $250; Pharmasave, $500; and Nathan Nicol Memorial, $500.
Fourth spot went to Vanessa McGill, who took home a total of $3,500. Her awards included Clearwater and District Minor Hockey Association Donna Akers-Sjodin memorial, $500; Kamloops Blazers scholarship, $1000; Sharke Contracting scholarship, $500; District Authority – Trades Training, $1250; and Lynda Cairns Memorial, $250.
The other scholarship and bursary recipients included (in no particular order):
• Annie Butcher: Kamloops Honda, $500; Pioneers, $500; Century 21, $300; YCS, $1000.
• Shawna Podbisky: Dr. Cary Lam, $1000; District Authority – Fine arts, $1250.
• Arel Eakins: Pioneer, $500; Worthy Student, $500.
• Cole Stone: PVP, $500; KTTA, $1000; Buy Low, $1000.
• Cassidy Redman: Elks, $1000; Canfor, $500; District Authority – Fine Arts, $1250
• Hailey Griffin: District Authority – Community Service, $1250.
• Shane Quaal: District Authority – Applied Skills, $1250.