After a five-year hiatus, Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School's annual Scholarship Tea returned on Tuesday, June 25.
In the past, the Scholarship Tea served as a way to honour the graduating class and gives those awarding scholarships and bursaries a chance to meet and get to know the recipients. Caitlin Currie, PSO's principal, said she was excited to bring it back after receiving community feedback requesting it return.
"We're really excited about the turnout. We didn't know how many folks would be interested in coming out especially post-COVID," Currie remarked. "It's really nice to see the community come together once again to celebrate kids."
All told around 200 grads, their family members and donors attended the event. Currie said the total value of the scholarships given out this year was around $80,000, thanks to the generosity of the community.
"It's always nice to end the year on a positive note and this is truly a really awesome one," Currie said.
Longtime PSO counsellor Ian Watson, who is retiring at the end of this year, remarked that he was happy to see a lot of familiar faces and a lot of new ones. He noted that this year the graduating class is around 80 students strong, meaning there was roughly $1,000 available for each of them.
"I don't think too many communities can do that. I'm always impressed about our community and how much we support our grads," Watson said.
This year the recipients of the various scholarships and bursaries are as follows. Several of the bursaries and scholarships went to multiple recipients.
Kaylee Gilbert received the 100 Mile Arts Council - Donna Loveridge Visual Arts Scholarship, the simplymastery/Black Press Scholarship, the Cariboo Regional District Bursary, the Forest Grove Legion #261 - Doug Smith Memorial Bursary, the IUOE - Local 959 Bursary, the Royal Canadian Legion #260 Bursary and the Shirley Case Memorial Bursary.
Becca VanderHorst received the 100 Mile Arts Council - Performing Arts Scholarship, 100 Mile Festival of the Arts Scholarship, the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society Scholarship and the District Authority Award.
Max Kalmokoff received the 100 Mile Arts Council - Performing Arts Scholarship, the 100 Mile Festival of the Arts Scholarship, the 100 Mile Performing Arts Society Scholarship and the United Steelworkers Local 1-2017 Bursray.
Ethan Lee Anthony received the 100 Mile Cruzers Mechanic Bursary, the Canim Lake Truckers Association Bursary and the Lorraine Lebourdais / Ernie Bob Memorial Scholarship.
Brook Teng received the 100 Mile Feed & Ranch Supply LTD. Scholarship, the Interlakes Cattlebelles Bursary and the Roe Lake & DRC & the Interlakes Community Centre Society Bursary.
Isabella Barrick received the 100 Mile Festival of the Arts Scholarship, the District Authority Award, Hendrix Lake Gym Fund Scholarship and the RE/MAX Canada Quest for Excellence.
Chiara Worthington the 100 Mile House General District Hospital Auxiliary Scholarship, the Jamie Dengel Memorial Scholarship, the Royal Canadian Legion #260 Bursary, the South Cariboo Health Foundation Award and the West Fraser Mills LTD. Scholarship.
Tayler Kelsey received the 100 Mile House & District Skating Club Scholarship, the 100 Mile House Lions Scholarship, the District Authority Award and the Lorraine and Reg Campbell Memorial Bursary.
Matthew Keller received the 100 Mile House & District Soccer Association Scholarship, the EYEON Opportunity Scholarship, the Cariboo Chilcotin Teacher Association Scholarship and the IKON Scholarship.
Cain Krebs received the 100 Mile House Lions Scholarship, the District Authority Award and the Steven Andrew Meville Memorial Scholarship.
Jacob Stadnyk received the 100 Mile House Lions Scholarship, the District Authority Award, the Joe Komori Memorial Scholarship and the PSO Woodlot Scholarship.
Ash Edwards received the 108 Mile Ranch Lions Club Scholarship, the Brock & Terry-Lynn Melnyk Family Bursary and the District Authority Award.
Kaitlyn Piccolo received the 108 Mile Ranch Lions Club Scholarship, the Fire Chief Bob Paterson Memorial Scholarship and the Pat Menduk Memorial Scholarship.
Liam Guimond received the Amnesty International - PSO Eagles's Nest Scholarship and the Knights of Columbus Scholarship.
Miriah Anderson received the Canadian Mental Health Association - South Cariboo Branch Scholarship, the Jamie Dengel Memorial Scholarship, the Knights of Columbus Scholarship, the Royal Canadian Legion #260 Bursary, the Sophie Zelt Memorial Bursary, the South Cariboo Health Foundation Bursary and the West Fraser Mills LTD. Scholarship.
Mia Lum received the Cariboo Chilcotin Principal and Vice Principal Association Scholarship, the Cariboo Chilcotin Teacher Association Scholarship, the Lorraine Lebourdais / Ernie Bob Memorial Scholarship, the Rachel McComb Memorial Scholarship - Canadian Parents for French and the Royal Canadian Legion #260 Bursary.
Nathaniel Jensen received the Cariboo Chilcotin Principal and Vice Principal Association Scholarship.
Cate McArthur received the Cariboo Chilcotin Teacher Association Scholarship and the Watch Lake & District Women's Institute Bursary.
Ethan Davison received the District Authority Award.
Jacob Stadnyk received the District Authority Award, the Joe Komori Memorial Scholarship and the PSO Woodlot Scholarship.
Sophia Barrick received the District Authority Award and the PSO Alumni Association Bursary.
William MacKenzie received the District Authority Award, the Neil Hodge Memorial Bursary - Forest Grove Fire Hall and the Williams Lake & District Credit Union Bursary.
Briton Lafreniere received the Dry Grad 2015 Legacy Fund Scholarship.
Isabella Robbins received the Forest Grove Legion #261 - Florence Redpath/Rita Larson Memorial Bursary, the Jean Reynolds Memorial Bursary and the PSO Woodlot Scholarship.
Kurtis Porter received the Logan Parent Foundation Bursary.
Payton Edlund received the Mount Begbie Masonic Lodge #183 Bursary.
Presley Dalton received the Mudhar Family Bursary and the Royal Canadian Legion #260 Bursary.
Brynn Maitland received the Physicians of 100 Mile House - in Memory of Dr. Eric Bock Bursary and the Right Photography Scholarship.
Jesse Hatch received the PSO Alumni Association Bursary.
Ashton Chretien received the Rachel McComb Memorial Scholarship - Canadian Parents for French and the South Cariboo Community Enhancement Bursary.
Floria Meili received the Reid Davidson Memorial Scholarship, the Roe Lake & DRC & the Interlakes Community Centre Society and the Steven Andrew Meville Memorial Scholarship.
Lars Mapson received the REMAX 100 Bursary.
Montana Pereman received the Rotary Club of 100 Mile House Bursary.
Charlotte Steere received the Western Communities Foundation-Exceptional Achievement and the Williams Lake & District Credit Union Bursary.
