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Trio of Tri-City students among select winners for $5.1M scholarship fund

Three teens — two from Coquitlam and one from Port Coquitlam — were successful in applying for the 2021 Beedie Luminaries, which aims to help those facing life challenges in pursuing a college education.
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

One step closer to achieving post-secondary aspirations.

This week, three regional students were announced as recipients of a fourth annual scholarship fund — up to $40,000 each — in providing relief to those who've "faced life challenges and adversity" while pursuing the university and college education of their choice. 

Of the $5.1 million available for 2021, the Beedie Luminaries awarded money to Tri-City Grade 12 students Ethem Gulseren, Katya Kubyshkin and Gaeun Nam.

They were three of 112 students across the province in addition to mentors, student coaches, peer support groups and paid internships.

  • Gulseren = Port Coquitlam / Terry Fox Secondary
  • Kubyshkin = Coquitlam / Pinetree Secondary
  • Nam = Coquitlam / Burnaby Mountain Secondary

The organization, founded by Ryan Beedie in 2018 with an initial base of $50 million, selects students who are facing financial adversity and the money can be used toward any type of post-secondary study, including public university, college, or trade schools in B.C. 

“Over the past three years, I have been blown away by the students who we have met through our program and can’t wait to see the impact that they will make in the world,” Beedie explained in a news release sent to Tri-City News.

“In getting to know their families, and recognizing the barriers single parents face, we saw the potential to expand our program to also include single parents looking to upgrade their education. I am delighted to welcome our first cohort of 15 adult learners to the Beedie Luminaries community along with 112 recent high school graduates.”

In addition to the money, the Tri-City trio listed above are also paired with mentors, and are offered paid work opportunities, Stay on Track student support, invitations to special events and access to the Beedie Luminaries online community.

This is also the first year that Beedie Luminaries awarded funds to single parents who want to return to school.

Grade 12 students set to graduate in 2022 and interested in applying for the scholarship can do so by visiting the Beedie Luminaries website.