More promising B.C. students facing financial adversity will get a leg up in their post-secondary studies from Burnaby native Ryan Beedie next year.
The real estate developer and philanthropist is adding up to $1 million to his Beedie Luminaries scholarship program for 2020.
“After the success of Beedie Luminaries’ inaugural year, I knew that I wanted to expand the program and extend support to deserving, resilient students from all over B.C.,” Beedie said in a press release. “Financial hardship should not stop talented British Columbians from pursuing higher education and realizing their full potential.”
For 2020, Beedie has added 25 more scholarships of up to $40,000 each to the program, which will be open to students from all over B.C. for the first time.
Founder and principal benefactor of the scholarship program, Beedie launched the Luminaries in November 2018 to help promising students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds overcome barriers to education.
It was his experience growing up in Burnaby and seeing friends who didn’t have the same opportunities as him to get a post-secondary education that motivated him to create the program, according to the release.
Eighty scholarships of up to $40,000 each were handed out during the inaugural round in May 2019.
Twenty-seven per cent of the recipients are the first in their families to pursue post-secondary education, 38 per cent come from single-parent households and 60 per cent live in rental housing.
“Having been selected for this award has given me much more optimism towards my future, and I am confident that I will be better able to serve my community as a direct result,” recipient and SFU student Simren Cogley said in the release.
Along with scholarship money, Beedie Luminaries get access to mentors, paid summer internship opportunities, Stay on Track student support and access to the Beedie Luminaries online community.
Students in Grade 12 can apply online at BeedieLuminaries.ca. The deadline is Jan. 20, 2020 at 9 a.m. PST.
Recipients will be announced in early May 2020.
The program is open to students planning to pursue undergraduate degrees or diploma studies at any public university, college or trade school in B.C.
