The ongoing success of the Knick Knack Nook, Bowen's re-use it store, has manifested itself in the form of a bursary. At a recent ceremony at the Nook to celebrate their second anniversary, Geoffrey Lewicki was awarded the bursary by the Nook, together with the Bowen Island Community Foundation.
Lewicki is a third-year student in Environmental Engineering at University of Northern British Columbia and the University of British Columbia. The affable islander, who grew up here, was awarded $1,000 toward his education. The money was raised when islanders made purchases at the Nook.
As Knick Knack Nook co-ordinator Diane Marshall tells the Undercurrent, the re-use it store has a mandate to foster "environmental responsibility through both action and education" and sought a student with strong ties to Bowen whose education included a heavy accent on environmental sustainability. She said Lewicki fit their criteria wonderfully.
"Geoff has a strong connection to Bowen, growing up on the island and doing summer and volunteer work here," Marshall said. "He's demonstrated remarkable resiliency and commitment to education throughout his school years.A well-rounded person, Geoff has interests in music and karate and is actively involved in the Bowen Island Football Club and community activities."
Geoff describes his current program as "intense education in pro-active and remedial methods for assuring environmental sustainability." His particular interest is ground water contamination with an option to specialize in land or air pollution. Knowledgeable about Bowen's environment, in the past he has voiced concerns about Bowen's septic tank leakage into the Lagoon and about our sewer/septic systems.
The selection committee consisted of Marshall, Allie Drake, Jane Kellett, Katherine Lawrence and Karla Reid. Marshall said they interviewed "four highly qualified students" and that the committee enjoyed the process and all candidates did well in the interviews.
The Knick Knack Nook, together with the B.I. Community Foundation, plans to award the bursary annually.
