Western Financial Group Recognizes a Record 73 Remarkable Student Leaders

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The Western Communities Foundation announces 2013 bursary recipients

HIGH RIVER, AB, Sept. 11, 2013 /CNW/ - Western Financial Group (Western) is proud to announce a record 73 winners of the annual Western Communities Foundation Exceptional Achievement Citation Bursary Awards.

The $500 individual bursaries, totalling $36,500 in 2013, are made to Grade 12 graduates through Western's charitable arm - the Western Communities Foundation. The bursaries are awarded to students who have overcome adversity, achieved success despite physical or mental limitations, displayed outstanding community or school spirit, performed an act of heroism or demonstrated leadership in a crisis.

"It's no secret that school didn't come easily to me," said Scott Tannas, CEO of Western Financial Group. "My experience as someone who struggled in high school and later in university led to the creation of this award. Rather than focusing on grades, we want to recognize students who have demonstrated leadership, community spirit and strength in the face of hardship. My hope is that this bursary program will empower and inspire a new generation of leaders who will continue to build and serve their communities."

The students selected to receive the Western Communities Foundation Exceptional Achievement Citation Bursary Awards are nominated by a member of the school teaching, support or administrative staff; or by a member of the school council. The final selection is made by the Awards Committee in consultation with a representative from a local Western Financial Group branch or regional office and the student's principals. The bursary is awarded when the student shows proof they are registered and attending a post-secondary institution including university, college or trade school.  Bursaries are also awarded for students with disabilities to put towards employment training, life-improving equipment or supplies.

In its eight year history, the Western Communities Foundation has awarded 430 bursaries to deserving students across Western Canada.

The 2013 Western Communities Foundation Exceptional Achievement and Bursary Award Recipients are:

British Columbia

Name		School		Hometown
Lauren Runge		Peter Skene Ogden Secondary		100 Mile House, BC
Torry Hoffos		Williams Lake Secondary School		150 Mile House, BC
Xandria Ahlbeand		Lakes District Secondary School		Francois Lake, BC
Alice Friesen		Fraser Lake Elementary Secondary School		Fraser Lake, BC
Nakisha Bauer		North Peace Secondary School		Fort St. John, BC
Jenna Chartrand		North Peace Secondary School		Fort St. John, BC
Allaura Lorell		North Peace Secondary School		Fort St. John, BC
Paige Stephenson		North Peace Secondary School		Fort St. John, BC
Lane Vienneau		Houston Secondary School		Houston, BC
Archie Wilcox		Chase Secondary		Kamloops, BC
Stephanie Bandura		George Elliot Secondary		Kelowna, BC
Travis Pulleyblank		Kelowna Secondary School		Kelowna, BC
Blerime Rusha		Rutland Senior Secondary		Kelowna, BC
Jacob Potvin		Mackenzie Secondary		Mackenzie, BC
Theresa Calihoo		Senior Learning Alternatives		Nanaimo, BC
Samantha Steenburgh		Senior Learning Alternatives		Nanaimo, BC
Elizabeth Czechmeister		Cedars Christian School		Prince George, BC
Tahani Peters		Gulf Islands Secondary School		Salt Spring Island, BC
Brenda Wood		Parkland Secondary School		North Saanich, BC
Jayden Horochuk		W. L. Seaton Secondary School		Vernon, BC

Alberta

Name					School						Hometown
*Jamie Kullman					Alix-MAC School						Alix, AB
Tina Wolf					W. R. Myers High School						Barnwell, AB
*Natasha Elliot					Bashaw School						Bashaw, AB
Sarah Beks					Beaverlodge Regional High School						Beaverlodge, AB
Karla Remenyk					Dawson Creek Secondary School						Bonanza, AB
Jed Krocker					Senator Gershaw School						Bow Island, AB
*Isabel Wilson					Bow Valley High School						Cochrane, AB
*Michael Green					Coronation High School						Coronation, AB
Taylor Bertamini					St. Anthony's School						Drumheller, AB
Devon Gillis					Drumheller Valley Secondary School						Drumheller, AB
Alora Sieben					Yellowhead Koinonia Christian School						Edson, AB
*Megan Hein					J.C. Charyk Hanna School						Hanna, AB
*Jake Baldwin					Notre Dame Collegiate						High River, AB
*Matthew Hazen					Highwood High School						High River, AB
Chandler Christie					J. T. Foster School						Nanton, AB
*Alyssa Goldstone					Foothills Composite High School						Okotoks, AB
*Charles Nwoye					Holy Cross Collegiate						Strathmore, AB
Paige Rist					Strathmore High School						Strathmore, AB
*Caraline Smith					St. Mary's School						Taber, AB
Jake Kimble					Oilfield High School						Turner Valley, AB
Ryder Currie					Blessed Sacrament School						Wainwright, AB

Saskatchewan

Name			School			Hometown
Gabbi Lindgren			Assiniboia Composite High School			Assiniboia, SK
Dana Chartrand			Gilbert Plains Collegiate Institute			Gilbert Plains, SK
Justin Serrano			LeRoy School			LeRoy, SK
Jisoo Lee			L. P. Miller Comprehensive			Nipawin, SK
Renee Chelle			Ponteix School			Ponteix, SK
Amy Pilon			St. Mary High School			Prince Albert, SK
Tashawna Belhumeur			Carlton Comprehensive High School			Prince Albert, SK
Lilli Tischenko			Carlton Comprehensive High School			Prince Albert, SK
Tanai Wilkins			Shaunavon High School			Shaunavon, SK
Kelsey Powell			Swift Current Comprehensive High School			Swift Current, SK
Chantelle Hayter			Winston High School			Watrous, SK
Andrew Kostyniuk			L. P. Miller Comprehensive			White Fox, SK
Katie Lesperance			Assiniboia Composite High School			Willow Bunch, SK
Trina Français			Wolseley High School			Wolseley, SK
Jenna Boychuk			Yorkton Regional High School			Yorkton, SK
Elias Giannoulis			Sacred Heart Secondary School			Yorkton, SK

Manitoba

Name		School		Hometown
Daniel Charney		Vincent Massey High School		Brandon, MB
Abigail Ernest		Neelin High School		Brandon, MB
Anna Malishevska		Crocus Plains Regional Secondary School		Brandon, MB
Chad Nykolaishyn		Goose Lake High School		Roblin, MB
Joanie French		Souris Regional High School		Stockton, MB
Ashley Proulx		R. D. Parker Collegiate		Thompson, MB
Hayley Cressall		Collège Pierre-Elliott-Trudeau		Winnipeg, MB
Sabrina Currie		Elmwood High School		Winnipeg, MB
Lucas Giesbrecht		Nelson McIntyre Collegiate		Winnipeg, MB
Kasha Hay		Oak Park High School		Winnipeg, MB
Keiran McVicker		Kildonan-East Collegiate		Winnipeg, MB
Erik Stiven Olivar		Windsor Park Collegiate		Winnipeg, MB
Carrie Lynne Resendes		Churchill High School		Winnipeg, MB
Shealagh Snyder		École secondaire Kelvin High School		Winnipeg, MB
Sabrina Wiebe		River East Collegiate		Winnipeg, MB
Alex Wolowiec		Westwood Collegiate		Winnipeg, MB

*Denotes expected to graduate in September, October or November 2013

The Western Communities Foundation was founded by Western Financial Group in 2001 as a non-profit organization under the Income Tax Act of Canada (Registration #87030 2619 RR0001).

About Western Financial Group
Western Financial Group is a diversified insurance company that serves more than 790,000 customers across western Canada. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in High River, Alberta, Western provides personal and business insurance services through more than 160 office locations and affiliates and online at www.westernfinancialgroup.ca. With a skilled team of approximately 1,800 employees, Western is committed to building the strongest insurance brokerage network in Western Canada.

Western Financial Group is a subsidiary of Desjardins Group, the leading cooperative financial group in Canada.

SOURCE: Western Financial Group

Eric Michalko
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Western Financial Group
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