Each year M’akola presents six $1,600 Judy Bourne Memorial Scholarships to Grade 12 graduating students heading to post-secondary school.
“Receiving this scholarship will help me continue my education. I want to get my Bachelor of Science and then my Masters in Physics right after,” said Kennedy Rolston a recent graduate from Reynolds Secondary School in Victoria.
Students of Aboriginal ancestry who have proven a passion for education and the desire to be future leaders are eligible to apply for these scholarships. “I applied for this scholarship to get back to my roots and background,” said Rolston of Metis descent.
Gage Delisle, from Comox, has aspirations to be a software engineer and will be attending North Island College. His father got him interested in software design and he’s already designed a couple games. He would like a career in game designing games.
When Delisle applied for the Judy Bourne scholarship he said it paired well with his academic goals and achievements and his Metis heritage.
“We need to support Aboriginal people in education so they can achieve their dreams,” said Delisle. “I applied for the Judy Bourne Scholarship because it looks really good and could help me achieve my dreams.”
Did you know?
Judy Bourne was the first executive director of M’akola Housing Society in 1984. The scholarships are in her name to honour her and where M’akola has come from. Judy’s daughter Kolette Cristante one of our directors on M’akola’s Board of Directors.
2016 Judy Bourne Memorial Scholarship Recipients
Kennedy Rolston, Metis Nation of BC, Reynolds Secondary School
George “Ethan” Louie, Ahousaht First Nation, Victoria High School
Ben Tozer, Metis, Edward Milne Community School
Megan Metz, Haisla Nation/Kitamaat, Mount Elizabeth Middle Secondary School
William Lattanzio –Battle, Painted Feather Woodlands Metis Tribe, Dover Bay Secondary School
Gage Delisle, Metis, Highland Secondary School