October 1, 2014 - Vancouver, B.C. – Coast Capital Savings has awarded $145,000 to 35 deserving students in B.C. communities, including the Okanagan, through the Coast Capital Savings Education Awards program. The funds support recipients with post-secondary education expenses.
Twenty-five students are receiving Standing Tall awards valued at $5,000 each. Standing Tall awards are given to extraordinary youth who have made a positive impact on their communities in the face of personal adversity. An additional ten students will receive Citizenship Awards, valued at $2,000 each and given to students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in all facets of their lives.
Summerland resident Carmen McDowell received one of the credit union’s Standing Tall Awards in recognition of her pursuit of an education in music with the goal of becoming a music teacher, despite living with severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since the age of eight. Carmen, a Bachelor of Music in Music Education graduate, is currently pursuing a diploma in Secondary Teacher Education (Music) program at the University of Victoria.
“I've never been able to play sports and have sat on the sidelines watching my friends play, but I've always had my music. Whenever the arthritis attacked a new part of me, I would pick up a new instrument to learn,” explains Carmen. “Music has been so integral to my life, and I want to be able to pass my love of music on to others. Thank you Coast Capital for this award.”
More than 500 B.C. students applied for the 35 scholarships. The successful recipients were selected by local adjudication committees made up of over 100 Coast Capital staff volunteers. The credit union’s awards program is an annual tradition and part of the company’s larger community strategy to help build a richer future for youth in their local communities.
This year marks the first year a student will be awarded the Beth Hutchinson Standing Tall Award. This special Standing Tall Award has been established to honour 2012 Standing Tall Award recipient Beth Hutchinson, who lost her battle with cancer on October 25, 2013 at the age of 20 years. Beth exemplified the spirit and commitment that the Standing Tall Awards represent. The recipient of the 2014 Beth Hutchinson Standing Tall Award is Emily King of Maple Ridge.
“Every year we are truly amazed by the applications we receive for our Education Awards Program, and this year is no exception,” says Wendy Lachance, director of community leadership for Coast Capital Savings. “These young men and women are inspirations not only to other youth but to all of us, as they set an example of how to triumph over adversity, never give up on your dreams and ultimately succeed.”
Other youth-focused initiatives lead by the credit union include leadership-building student internships through the Coast Capital Youth Team program, and the company’s three regional Young Leaders Community Councils which have been charged with the adjudication of Coast Capital’s community investment grants, awarded quarterly to youth-focused organizations across B.C.
About Coast Capital Savings
Coast Capital Savings is Canada’s second largest credit union, owned by its 512,000 members. It has 50 branches in the Metro Vancouver, Fraser Valley and Vancouver Island regions of British Columbia and has exciting plans to grow. Product innovations include Canada's first free chequing account from a full-service financial institution. Coast Capital offers one of Canada's 10 Most Admired Corporate Cultures™ and was named one of 2014’s BC Top Employers. It is a member of Canada's Best Managed Companies Platinum Club and an Imagine Canada Caring Company. To learn more, visit www.coastcapitalsavings.com.
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Coast Capital Media Line:
Phone number:778.391.6225
Email address: media@coastcapitalsavings.com