119 BC Students Awarded $600,000 in Ike Barber Transfer Scholarships

VICTORIA, BC, Oct. 10, 2013 /CNW/ - $600,000 in scholarships to assist students transferring between BC post-secondary institutions have been awarded by the Irving K. Barber British Columbia Scholarship Society.

The scholarships are awarded annually to undergraduate students who have completed two years at a public post-secondary institution in BC and are transferring to another degree-granting institution to complete their studies.  Scholarship funds come from the returns on a $15 million endowment established by the province in 2006. The fund is named after philanthropist Irving K Barber who had a long history of supporting public education and research projects in British Columbia before his death in 2012.

"B.C. has the most comprehensive credit transfer system in Canada, giving students all kinds of flexibility to complete their studies," said Advanced Education Minister Amrik Virk. "The scholarships will help these students take full advantage of their transfer options to enrich their post-secondary experience and chart their own unique path toward a degree and career."

To qualify for a transfer scholarship, students must have strong grades and demonstrated volunteer service to their school and/or community.

"Student mobility is essential today to ensure that BC students are able to focus their education appropriately and graduate with the best qualifications available to meet the current job market," said Hugh Gordon, Chair of the scholarship society. "Our society is pleased to support this critically important aspect of the post- secondary education system."

The Irving K. Barber BC Scholarship Society offers scholarship and education award programs that support BC students attending public post-secondary institutions. The Society recently announced expanded scholarship and award programs for Aboriginal students and students hoping to complete part of their education overseas.  Since 2006, the Society has awarded over $5 million in scholarships to thousands of BC students.

The Society's programs are administered by the Victoria Foundation. To find out more about this fund or other Society programs, call the Victoria Foundation at 250-381-5532 or visit www.bcscholarship.ca.

Editors Please Note: A complete list of 2013 Premier's International Scholarship recipients can be found at www.bcscholarship.ca//web/news

SOURCE: Victoria Foundation

Rory Grewar, Director of Special Funds, Victoria Foundation
250-381-5532
[email protected]
www.victoriafoundation.bc.ca