Community foundation awards more than $78,000 in scholarships to Perth County students

Thirty-four graduating high-school students from across Perth County are receiving a helping hand as they prepare for the next chapter of their education.

The Stratford and Perth County Community Foundation (SPCCF) will award more than $78,000 in scholarships this spring through 14 scholarship funds established by local families, organizations and community leaders to support post-secondary students pursuing a wide range of careers and educational pathways. According to SPCCF executive director Rachel Smith, the scholarships are funded through endowed funds created by donors who want to invest in local youth while often honouring the legacy of a loved one.

“We have scholarships that come from industry leaders and we have families that want to remember the legacy of a loved one,” Smith said. “It’s a way to support students and keep those memories alive in the community.”

Among the scholarships awarded this year are trades-focused awards funded by local businesses and memorial scholarships established in honour of community members. One example is the Peter Donaldson Memorial Scholarship, which supports students pursuing studies in television and film.

This year's awards include the foundation's newest and largest scholarship initiative, the Joyce Dalgleish Parkview United Scholarship Fund. The fund will provide six four-year scholarships worth $3,000 annually and six two-year scholarships worth $1,500 annually, creating long-term support for students as they move through post-secondary education.

Unlike many traditional scholarships that focus primarily on academic achievement, the Joyce Dalgleish Parkview United fund places a strong emphasis on financial need.

“There are a lot of scholarships out there for the best marks,” Smith said. “They really wanted this one to go to students who may not have the opportunity (to attend post-secondary school) otherwise without that extra boost.”

The foundation works closely with local secondary schools, which review applications and select recipients based on criteria established by donors. Those criteria can include financial need, intended field of study, community involvement or other factors important to the family or organization that established the fund.

This year, scholarship recipients came from secondary schools across the county, including four awards at Listowel District Secondary School, three at Mitchell District High School, one at South Huron District High School, three at St. Marys DCVI, 17 at Stratford District Secondary School and eight at St. Michael Catholic Secondary School.

Smith said community-funded scholarships are becoming increasingly important as families face rising post-secondary education costs.

“Education changes lives,” she said. “These scholarships are more than financial assistance. They’re a vote of confidence from the community that says we believe in these students, their goals and their potential.”

She added scholarship funds also provide donors with an opportunity to create a lasting legacy, helping local students for generations to come.

To learn more about establishing a scholarship fund or supporting local students, visit www.spccf.ca.