16 Post-Secondary Students Receive Premier's Scholarships for Study Abroad

VICTORIA, BC, Oct. 9, 2014 /CNW/ - 16 BC students have been awarded between $6,000 and $10,000 each in Premier's International Scholarships by the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society for study abroad.

The students are enrolled in overseas programs in fifteen different countries and will be studying a wide variety of subjects ranging from archaeology to fashion design (see below for list of recipients).

Premier's scholarships are funded from the returns on a $15 million endowment fund established by the Province of BC for international education. The scholarships are part of the One World international scholarship program managed by the Society. The Ministry of Advanced Education provided an additional $2 million for the program in 2012 as part of British Columbia's International Education Strategy. 

"Congratulations to the 16 students – studying abroad can be a life-changing experience," said Premier Christy Clark. "In a global economy, international experience is invaluable and leads to more and more opportunity, understanding, and connections."

Hugh Gordon, chair of the Irving K. Barber B. C. Scholarship Society, noted that this year brought forward a record number of applications for the Premier's Scholarship program including a significant number from students attending community colleges.

"We are pleased the Society is able to provide this opportunity to students from all parts of British Columbia to experience learning in a different culture," he said.

The Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society has awarded just over $2.0 million in international scholarships since 2008, when the program began. Premier's Scholarships are awarded once each year. In addition, One World scholarships of $1,000 to $3,500 are available throughout the year for students attending BC public post-secondary institutions. To learn more about how to apply for a scholarship, visit: http://www.ikbbc.ca/web/international

Background: The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society, whose programs are administered by the Victoria Foundation, manages a series of scholarship and award programs that support BC students attending public post-secondary institutions both throughout the province and outside the country. Since 2006, the society has awarded more than $7 million from six programs.

2014 Premier's International Scholarship Recipients

Student Name	Hometown	Institution	Program	Study-Abroad Country
Samantha Chan	Burnaby	Simon Fraser University	Business	Denmark
Hayley Cooper	Abbotsford	University of the Fraser Valley	Social Services	England
Kelsey Craver	North Vancouver	BC Institute of Technology	Business Administration	Sweden
Casey Gray	Burnaby	Simon Fraser University	Archaeology and Anthropology	Greece
Lauryn Kerr	Victoria	University of Victoria	Law	Netherlands
Madeline MacDonald	Victoria	University of Victoria	Psychology	England
Lauren McKay	Winfield	Okanagan College	Business Administration	Switzerland
Franz Meier	Cowichan Bay	Royal Roads University	Human Security and Peacebuilding	Nepal
Nam Pham	Nanaimo	University of Victoria	Commerce	France
Gillian Riz	Saanichton	University of Victoria	Business	Argentina
Claire Sieffert	Victoria	Simon Fraser University	International Studies	Spain
Katherine Szabo	Bonnington	Thompson Rivers University	Business Administration	Australia
Audra Toews	Chilliwack	University of the Fraser Valley	Science	Korea/Barbados
Jillian Van Gyn	Victoria	Royal Roads University	Human Security and Peacebuilding	Uganda
Jorey Wandersee	Victoria	Camosun College	University Transfer	Japan
Yuliya Yaremenko	Port Coquitlam	Kwantlen Polytechnic University	Fashion Design and Technology	Australia

Image with caption: "Irving K Barber BC Scholarship Society (CNW Group/Irving K Barber BC Scholarship Society)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20141009_C2142_PHOTO_EN_6461.jpg

SOURCE: Irving K Barber BC Scholarship Society

Media contact: Rory Grewar, Program Director, Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society, Toll Free: 1-844-478-4645 (1-844-IRVINGK), [email protected]