Beedie Luminaries Awards $5.1 Million in Scholarships to 127 Promising Grade 12 Students and Single Parents Across B.C.

On June 14, our client Beedie Luminaries awarded $5.1 million in scholarships to 112 B.C. Grade 12 students as well as 15 single parents looking to pursue further education. This is the third year that Beedie Luminaries has given scholarships to high school students and the first year that it has awarded them to single parents.

The Beedie Luminaries program seeks out students who have not only demonstrated strong academic readiness, but who are also engaged in the world around them and have taken on life challenges and adversity with determination and optimism. These scholarships recognize students’ resilience and resolve while easing the financial pressure associated with post-secondary studies.

“Over the past three years, I have been blown away by the students who we have met through our program and can’t wait to see the impact that they will make in the world,” says Ryan Beedie. “In getting to know their families, and recognizing the barriers single parents face, we saw the potential to expand our program to also include single parents looking to upgrade their education. I am delighted to welcome our first cohort of 15 adult learners to the Beedie Luminaries community along with 112 recent high school graduates.”

This year’s Grade 12 recipients come from 65 high schools in 26 communities, with 35 per cent being the first in their immediate family to pursue post-secondary education and 75 per cent coming from single-parent or legal guardian families.

“It feels unreal to be part of such a distinguished community and knowing that I have security in my educational journey thanks to the support of my mentors, cohort members, and workers of Beedie Luminaries,” says Armen Bagdasarov, a 2021 Beedie Luminaries scholarship recipient. “I know that I now represent a high standard which I will do everything I can to uphold, in an effort to leave my mark on this program.”

The 15 recipients of the single parent award are embarking on their post-secondary studies at eight different universities, colleges and trade schools across British Columbia. The program anticipated to welcome ten recipients in its first year, but it was difficult for the committee to narrow down the selection to only ten, knowing the financial need and potential were so apparent.

Two of the recipients are parents of students who have previously been awarded a Beedie Luminaries scholarship and 13 are actively involved with Beedie Luminaries’ community partners.

“I have overcome so many challenges as a single parent and didn’t think that I would be able to go back to school, but now I am hopeful and excited that I can do this for myself and set a good example for my children,” says Nishani Sinthiya Rajkumar, a Beedie Luminaries award recipient and single mother of two. “I believe the program’s vision to help single parents who have struggled with adversity is unique and inclusive. Giving a second chance to others who haven’t been able to pursue better employment opportunities due to a lack of support and academic resources is no small feat.”

Beedie Luminaries launched on November 13, 2018, with a $50-million donation from Ryan Beedie, which coincided with his 50th birthday. To date, the program has awarded 335 scholarships to students across the province.

In addition to financial assistance of up to $40,000 per student, recipients are also paired with mentors, and offered paid work opportunities, Stay on Track student support, invitations to special events and access to the Beedie Luminaries online community.

Incoming Grade 12 students and single parents who are interested in applying to be part of next year’s cohort are encouraged to follow Beedie Luminaries on social media or visit beedieluminaries.ca. The application period for the 2022 cohort will open in fall 2021.