Three students from the Similkameen have received a major boost to their education funds after receiving 2013 Valley First education awards.
The Valley First education award is presented in the form of 11 individual $2,000 awards to secondary and post-secondary students who are also Valley First members. Winners demonstrate outstanding school and community involvement. This year’s local recipients are Joshua Vissia, Jessi Hitchen and Olivia Lawrence, all from Keremeos.
Grant recipient Jessi Hitchen says the education award from Valley First is a welcome funding boost.
“When I learned that I was receiving a Valley First education award for outstanding community involvement, I was overjoyed,” says Hitchen.” This award has been a great help in paying for tuition and textbooks as I start my studies towards a bachelor of arts degree.”
This year Valley First also presented two $2,500 education awards to secondary and post-secondary students who showed outstanding community volunteerism with their local food bank. Stephanie Fell and Jennifer Andrews from Kelowna were this year’s recipients.