Summer is a time for students, staff and families to take a break, reflect and recharge after a busy school year. Over the last few weeks, we’ve celebrating many outstanding achievements by students and staff throughout the Vancouver School District. From scholarship winners to award, and recognitions – many have gone above and beyond this past school year! Today we’re highlighting VSB students who received Veazey Scholarships, Schulich Leadership Scholarships, and VSB Recognition Scholarships:

Tom and Phyllis Veazey Scholarship

The Tom and Phyllis Veazey Scholarship provides recipients with funds for tuition, books and fees for the University of British Columbia (UBC). Paige Cheng is one of the recipients of the Veazey Scholarship this year. She graduated from Britannia Secondary where she was involved with the volleyball team and student council. Cheng was also elected as a leader of the Vancouver District Student Council (VDSC). The VDSC represents students across Vancouver and as co-president, Cheng worked with the school board on different initiatives and programs such as the Canley Cup food drive and a student arts gala.

Cheng was already enrolled at UBC’s Sauder School of Business and considers the scholarship funds to be a boon that give her freedom to excel in her studies. “It’s helping me pay for my school. It’s going to help me a lot in the future because I don’t have to pay for the financial burden of school. So, I was really excited and it felt like a weight off my shoulders,” she says.

Cheng plans to explore law school after completing her business degree. “I kinda want to work in the non-profit sector. I'm not too sure yet but working with youth has been a goal of mine because I really like having that connection with people and being able to maintain a very meaningful relationship with somebody and I find that’s a really big value of mine; so working with youth and in the non-profit sector could really fulfill my values and my priorities,” she says.

Schulich Leader Scholarship

In a pool of more than 300,000 candidates, Schulich Leader Scholarships are awarded to 100 entrepreneurial-minded high school graduates who plan to specialize in a Science, Technology, Engineering or Math -related program at select universities in Canada. Successful candidates are awarded this scholarship for their academic excellence, leadership, creativity and charisma. 

Two students from Vancouver were awarded the scholarship this year. Alexander Zhong, Grade 12 student at Windermere Secondary, is one of this year’s scholarship winners. Zhong exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that the Schulich Scholarship promotes. While at Windermere, Zhong started his own organization, Youth Business Trend, to expand education resources and opportunities to youth around the world. Using his experience and skills, Zhong intends to pursue computer science at UBC. 

“This scholarship is a huge step forward in achieving my academic goal,” Zhong says. “And I’m just really grateful for this opportunity.”

Leo Xu is the other winner of the Schulich Scholarship. Xu is a young teenager who is graduating as part of the Ministry of Education’s University Transition Program (UTP), a program that supports gifted students. It offers a conceptually advanced, fast-paced curriculum that promotes high standards of academic excellence, a strong work ethic, research skills, and study habits needed to support success in future university studies. Despite his young age, Xu will enrol in UBC this fall to study engineering and math. He credits his work in promoting access to STEM resources as one of the factors that led to his success.

“Me and four friends, we created a summer camp over the summer break. We try to help underrepresented groups in STEM jobs by introducing children to STEM. It was a big success and was featured on the UBC blog,” Xu says. “I’m very honoured to get the scholarship. When I signed up for it, I didn’t think I would get it. It feels very exciting to graduate earlier with the help of the scholarship as well.”

As part of next generation of technology and STEM innovation, scholarship program founder Seymour Schulich says, “This year’s group of students will represent the best and brightest that Canada has to offer on both a national and global scale.” 

VSB Recognition Scholarships

In 2018, the District created of three scholarships to annually honour administrators, teachers, and support staff who have an impact on our students’ lives. These scholarships are also meant to celebrate students’ remarkable achievements and their learning journeys under the exceptional leadership of District staff. 

This year, six students received VSB Recognition Scholarships, including Eva Jiang from David Thompson Secondary, Katie Evans from Point Grey Secondary, Alberta Crysler-Hill from Gladstone Secondary, Sierra Mevrita from VASS, Leona Lam from Churchill Secondary and Alec Read from Kitsilano Secondary. The District recognizes the amazing work of administrators, teachers and support staff mentioned in the students’ scholarship submissions. 

Congratulations to these and other incredible students who were awarded scholarships this year. We wish you the very best as you continue with your education journeys!