The breadth of scholarships and bursaries available to learners of all ages and educational pursuits continues to grow at the Bowen Island Community Foundation (BICF), thanks to the generosity of our donors.
In July 2023, the Foundation announced the inaugural winners of three new scholarships.
The first winner of the Bowen Island Football Club Founders Award Scholarship — $1,000, to a former player pursuing post-secondary education or vocational training — is Dallen Jennings.
Dallen discovered his passion for football with Bowen Island FC, where he played from the moment he could run until he finished his U13 season. He moved on to play at a higher level in North Vancouver, and eventually earned his C-level coaching license to develop youth players. Dallen’s love of sport, combined with his skill and experience both as a player and coach, led him to pursue a degree in kinesiology, which he is now completing at Dalhousie University in Halifax.
The Brian Biddlecombe Memorial Award is offered to members of the Bowen Island Volunteer Fire Department and their immediate families to pursue post-secondary education or vocational training. Biddlecombe gave 44 years of dedicated service to the Bowen Island Fire Department, 11 years as chief.
This $3,000 award in his memory recognizes his considerable legacy of community service and allows it to live on. Growing up and witnessing her uncle, father, and grandfather helping others and supporting their community as volunteers for the Bowen Island Fire Department inspired Olivia Harding to follow in their footsteps and dedicate herself to a life helping others.
Early experience as a youth leader on Bowen, who was responsible for the health and safety of children, set Olivia on a career path to healthcare and studies at Vancouver Island University, where she is currently completing the final year of her BSc in nursing.
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The $2,500 Logan Family Healthcare Scholarship, supported by a donation from Sandy Logan in honour of her family, has been made available for a student pursuing a career in healthcare, or for someone wishing to increase their knowledge or certification in a health care–related discipline.
With goals of post-secondary education and a medical career in mind, Dayna McMahon worked hard throughout high school to improve her grades and graduate with a competitive transcript. Ultimately graduating from Rockridge Secondary with honours with distinction, she attributes her academic success to ongoing support from tutors in the Bowen community, who taught her study habits she brought with her to Vancouver Island University.
Now in her final year at VIU, Dayna looks forward to obtaining her BSC in nursing. Post-graduation, she intends to continue working in an under-served area of medicine that has been the focus of her recent undergraduate work — geriatric psychiatry — and aspires to become a nurse practitioner in this field.
In addition to these three new scholarships, totalling $6,500, the Bowen Island Community Foundation awarded $8,250 to five students via six other established scholarships and bursaries. The Foundation was also pleased to disperse $50,000 in Knick Knack Nook Scholarships to 21 students.
Are you a student who is training for a trade or completing a program at a technical school? The Foundation is still accepting applications for the $1,000 Trades & Training award — five of which are awarded annually on a first-come, first-served basis. Eligible programs range from carpentry and mechanics to culinary arts, cosmetology, and health care services — and more!
See https://bowenfoundation.com/grants/scholarship-and-bursary-application/ for more information on applying.
