BC Technology Industry Announces 2008 Scholarship Winners
Friday, June 13, 2008
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Vancouver, BC, June 13, 2008--(T-Net)--Next stop… a career in technology. At least that’s the path for the seven students who received a combined total of almost $10,000 in scholarship grants from the BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA). The Honorable Colin Hansen, Minister of Economic Development, presented the scholarship awards to the recipients at BCTIA’s annual awards event held last night at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.
“With the knowledge economy growing, technology being applied in all industries and workers getting scarce, there’s never been a better time to pursue a career in technology. It’s an industry that offers variety, opportunity, advancement and above average wages,” says Pascal Spothelfer, President and CEO of the BC Technology Industry Association. “Our goal through the scholarship program is to recognize and reward well-rounded, high achieving students who are choosing to pursue this field of study. This year’s winners are impressive and deserving of this recognition.”
Over 400 public high schools and post-secondary institutions across British Columbia were advised about the technology scholarship program, resulting in a flood of applications from around the province. Three grants valued at $2,500 each go to post-secondary students studying either business or science in a technology-related field. The recipients are:
Kylee Lothrop of Victoria is currently enrolled in the Electronics Engineering Technology program at Camosun College. Kylee plans to study engineering at the University of Victoria with the goal of advancing the field of green energy.
Thomas Knudsen of Prince George is a recipient of the Governor General’s Medal for Academic Excellence. Thomas conducts research on Distributed Real-Time Transaction Processing Systems at the University of Northern BC,
Christy Hyde of Kelowna is currently attending the Networking and Telecommunications Engineering Technology Program Okanagan College. Christy represented the College in the networking competition at Skills BC in Abbotsford.
Four $500 grants go to high school graduates who are pursuing technology education at a BC post-secondary institution. The recipients are:
Mary Cheung of Vancouver is a grade 12 International Baccalaureate student at Britannia Secondary School with interests in user-friendly product design and 3-D animation. Mary plans to attend Simon Fraser University’s School of Interactive Arts and Technology program.
Jamie Schenkeveld of Lumby is a straight A student of Charles Bloom Secondary and a 4-H club president, hockey captain and tutor. Jamie plans to attend the Civil Engineering program at Okanagan College.
Rémy Barois of Sir Winston Churchill Secondary in Vancouver has won numerous academic awards and plans to complete an undergraduate degree at UBC in either Mechatronics or Engineering Physics.
Kyung Soo Kim also from Sir Winston Churchill Secondary in Vancouver is an honour roll student and participant in the International Baccalaureate program. Kyung Soo plans to make his career in mechanical engineering, with the goal of developing creative new technologies.
“People who graduate from British Columbia’s world-class post-secondary institutions are in high demand around our province," said Economic Development Minister Colin Hansen. “The recipients of these awards are well on their way to successful careers in the province’s booming technology industry and I congratulate each of them."
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 many other technology companies have contributed to the fund.
About the BCTIA
The BC Technology Industry Association (BCTIA) is a not-for-profit, member-funded organization that represents start-ups to established technology companies across the province. Incorporated in 1993, the BCTIA has served the province's technology industry for over a decade and today is recognized locally, provincially and nationally as the voice of BC's technology industry. As the voice of BC's technology industry, the BCTIA is committed to the ongoing growth, sustainability and prosperity of BC's economy and the technology industry that serves it. The Association delivers opportunities for members to connect, learn and grow their businesses in BC. For more information, visit http://www.bctia.org.
For more information, please contact:
Catherine Ducharme
604-637-6372
604-813-6104
cducharme@outsidein.ca