BC Technology Industry Association Announces 2014 Scholarship Winners

Vancouver, BC, June 5, 2014 (via Marketwired) – Continuing its investment in the growth of BC’s technology industry through investment in people, the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) presented a total of $7,000 in scholarship grants to three deserving secondary and post-secondary students from British Columbia. The scholarship awards were presented by Steve Fast, VP, IT Operations at TELUS.

The BC Technology Scholarship program is designed to support hard-working and accomplished young people in their pursuit of technology-related education. Applicants must be enrolled in either business or science programs in a technology-related field and are selected on a basis of both merit and need.
“We’re proud to support the next generation of science and technology leaders in British Columbia,” stated Bill Tam, President and CEO of the BCTIA.

As the largest technology association in BC, the BCTIA also recognizes the importance of lifelong learning to continue to add value and update skills of technologists as they evolve into tomorrow’s technology leaders. “For knowledge-based industries like ours, talent is always a critical issue,” Tam added. “Nurturing and growing great technology leaders here in British Columbia is important for the BCTIA. Talent is an issue that permeates across everything we do, from advocacy for science and education to peer learning and entrepreneur coaching,” Tam added.

One grant of $5,000 was awarded at the post-secondary level. This year’s recipient is:

Mr. Josh Ewart, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC
Josh is currently enrolled in his third year of an Electrical Engineering Co-op Program at the University of Victoria. Focused on a career in alternative energy, Josh has recently completed two co-op semesters undertaking research and development at Ballard Power Systems. In a previous co-op term Josh worked as an instructor with Science Venture in Victoria where he developed and delivered science and engineering curriculum to children aged 6 to 14.

Two grants valued at $1,000 each were awarded to BC high school students seeking post-secondary studies in science or technology-related fields. The 2014 Scholarship recipients are:

Ms. Esther Inlayo, Seaquam Secondary School, Delta, BC
An ardent environmentalist, Esther is enrolling in the Bachelor of Applied Science program at UBC with hopes of becoming a Professional Engineer. After university, Esther intends to seek a career in green buildings. The third of four children, Esther immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 2001.

Ms. Kulvir Sekhon, W.J. Mouat Secondary School, Abbotsford, BC
With interests in both Space and the Biomedical field, Kulvir is currently seeking to enroll in a co-op engineering program at either the University of Victoria, or the University of British Columbia, Kulvir has received numerous scholastic awards over her high school career including a Silver Award and GenomeBC Award from the 2014 Fraser Valley Regional Science Fair, and a top 10% placement in the 2012 Michael Smith Science Challenge.

“At TELUS, we use educational background as a benchmark to recruit the highest calibre team members in their respective fields. The knowledge, training and experience they acquire throughout their education help position our organization as a global leader within our industry,“ said Bill Sayles, Executive Vice-president, Business Transformation at TELUS, and strong supporter of the BC Technology Scholarship Program.

The BCTIA launched the Technology Scholarship Fund at its 2005 Technology Impact Awards dinner, seeding the fund with a donation of $10,000. Since then the fund has grown to over $250,000 with all contributions coming from industry.

To download the completed media release, click here.
For information on Technology Impact Award winners and finalists, visit www.thetias.com