Coast Capital Savings is celebrating 61 young people across the province who have overcome significant personal hurdles or adversity to successfully graduate high-school and pursue post-secondary education.
The credit union’s Standing Tall Education Awards help these resilient youth with a $3,500 grant to help pay for the costs associated with their post-secondary education journey.
Natalia Malagon of Burnaby exemplifies what it means to be a 2019 Standing Tall Award recipient.
Before coming to Canada, Malagon faced numerous challenges in her youth that threatened the lives of her and her family.
As she looks towards her future in post-secondary, Malagon said she is determined to pursue a career in medicine. Having part of her schooling costs covered means she has more time to focus on her education.
“Receiving this award undoubtably relieves some of the tension and stress created by school fees and tuition,” Malagon said in a news release. “This award is not only for my personal benefit, but that of my family, community and all the lives that I may touch currently and in the future.”
Since 2004, Coast Capital Savings has invested over $2.4 million to help 867 students fund their post-secondary studies.
The annual awards are one program within the larger Coast Capital community investment strategy that supports youth. The credit union’s community investment activities are aimed at improving the financial well-being of young Canadians and empowering them to achieve what’s important in their lives. To promote this aspiration, Coast Capital facilitates a suite of signature youth programs that help build community connections, develop leadership skills and fund post-secondary education. These include:
- Coast Capital Youth Community Councils, a group of young people who are tasked with making grant funding recommendations.
- Coast Capital Youth Intern programthat provides unique work experience for students in branches and as Coast Capital ambassadors at community events and initiatives.
- Coast CapitalYouth Education Awardsthat help support young people who have faced adversity in pursuing their post-secondary education goals.
