The KSS Fine Arts Society is creating a scholarship in honour of the late Patrick Nicholson, the long-time Lounge radio host who lost his battle with cancer on Dec. 6, 2014. According to Ian Lindsay, who is chair and founder of KSS Fine Arts Society, the Patrick Nicholson Memorial Music Scholarship will be funded by donations from the community.
“Patrick gave so much to the community in so many ways. This is the least we could do to keep his spirit alive,” he said.
According to a news release from Sherri Verdec, who organized Nicholson’s Celebration of Life and was close to Nicholson and his partner Darlene Haynes, the scholarship will be awarded to a KSS student who “is furthering a career path in a music-oriented field.”
In Lindsay’s words, they will look for “a student worthy of the spirit of Patrick.”
Nicholson worked with the KSS Fine Arts Society for many years as emcee at the organization’s annual Premiere Performance event in Qualicum Beach. According to Lindsay, the society created the event to offer KSS students the opportunity to showcase their work in drama, fine arts, music and other arts to the general community.
“It was a part of his life,” said Lindsay of Nicholson and the Premiere Performance. “It was something he believed in.”
Lindsay also said that this will be the first named scholarship offered by the KSS Fine Arts Society. In the past, the organization worked to distribute the funds raised during the Premiere Performance as general bursaries to help KSS students attend art and music camps, submit to art shows by pay for framing and matting of their work, and more.
Lindsay said that the funds raised for the Patrick Nicholson Memorial Music Scholarship will be kept separate from those gathered for the bursaries.
“Patrick would have been so honoured,” said Haynes at her partner’s Celebration of Life on Jan. 10. “His purpose here was to be of service to others.”
The amount the scholarship would be worth and when it would first be given out will be determined entirely by how much money is raised and how quickly it comes in, said Lindsay. The sooner donations come in, the sooner a scholarship can be awarded. Lindsay also said the KSS Fine Arts Society will reward the scholarship annually if enough funds are raised.
Donations can be made at Lindsay’s Remax Realty locations in both Parksville (101-897 Island Hwy W, Parksville, V9P 2E9) or Qualicum Beach (113 West Second Ave., Qualicum Beach, V9K 1T5). As this is an ongoing fundraising campaign, there is no cut-off date for donations.
Donations were also collected at Nicholson’s Celebration of Life on Jan. 10.