Parksville resident and Vancouver Island University (VIU) student Connie Graham will enter her third year towards a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and First Nations Studies with the help of a $5,000 Scholarship of Excellence from the Pieter de Reuver Foundation.
"It's a really hefty scholarship, enough to cover my tuition for a full year plus at least one semester's worth of books," said Graham. Graham moved to Parksville six years ago with her family, deciding it was the ideal community to raise their children, ages five, seven and eight. Working with her husband in their landscaping and gardening business, she made the decision to return to school to chart a new career path.
Graham was chosen for the scholarship based on the combination of outstanding academic achievement, community service and leadership — all qualities she has shown in her studies and activities outside of class, according to VIU professors who supported her application. In celebration of the VIU's 75th anniversary in 2010, Pieter de Reuver established 75 - $1,000 scholarships available to students from a wide range of faculties. Wanting to ensure he was still supporting the Oceanside community, he aimed the scholarships and awards at Oceanside area students. He established the $5,000 scholarship in the spring of 2013; Graham is the second recipient. —Submitted by VIU