Two local women are pursuing higher education this year thanks in part to the Return-to-School Bursaries from the Canadian Federation of University Women Parksville Qualicum (CFUWPQ).
Carmanagh Carson-Austin and Nancy Newlove both applied for and were successful in receiving bursaries last year.
Carson-Austin previously worked as a program coordinator at the Tribune Bay Outdoor Education Centre. Her employer described her as a natural leader with “an incredible aptitude for working with people of all ages, especially having skill and understanding in dealing with youth with challenges.” It was at the camp that Carson-Austin developed a great interest in working with the deaf and decided to work towards certification as an American Sign Language Interpreter. She is studying this year at Vancouver Community College and hopes to continue at Douglas College, one of only three Canadian institutions offering the certification.
Nancy Newlove was enrolled in a Master’s program at the University of Victoria but withdrew from the program when personal circumstances changed. Seven years later she has resumed her scholarship at the UVIC to complete her Master’s thesis in the field of legal medical and religious history of the Christian Science movement. On her scholarship application, Nancy stated that the CFUW bursary was the impetus for her to return to school to complete her studies.
The scholarship committee of CFUWPQ is now accepting applications for its 2014 Back-to-School bursaries of $2000. Applicants must have been out of school for more than two years. For further information see the advertisement in this paper and visit cfuwpq.ca/Scholarships/Bursaries. Deadline for the application is June 2.
— Submitted by Linda Fullalove