The Chilliwack Progress ran a story on Feb 20 about the merits of applying for scholarships, and featured quotes from UFV nursing student Lois Piccioni.

Read on for excerpts, or read the fully story (by Jessica Peters, with photo by Jenna Hauck) here.

UFV Financial Aid  and Awards encourages all new and returning students to check out scholarship and bursary options: the deadline to apply is May 10 for current studetn and April 1 for high school entrance scholarships. Information for all of our scholarship and leadership awards can be found on our website at  www.ufv.ca/scholarships.

“Scholarships changed my life,” said UFV student Lois Piccioni. “Scholarships paid for the first two years of nursing school for me.”

As she finishes up her third and final year of nursing school, Piccioni has some advice for high school students.

One of the most important steps to success is to build relationships and portray yourself in a good light, she said. Good relationships lead to good references, a key component of most scholarship applications.

“Build relationships with your teachers, your principal, your pastor,” she said. “And act responsibly if you want to be respected.”

Volunteering or working is a requirement for graduation, offering the perfect chance to make a connection for referral letters. And Piccioni advised not to put off asking for one.

Secondly, she wants grads to know that not all the scholarships go to the top students of the class.

“I had good grades, but not the best grades,” she said, but was still able to secure almost $10,000 in scholarship money. From $500 bursaries to School District Awards for music and leadership, it all added up. Her school counsellor was a huge help, and encourage her toward the most important scholarship habit of all — apply for everything.

“Apply for everything you could possibly be eligible for,” she said.

And once you get those first year scholarships, don’t give up. Piccioni had earned enough to cover two years of schooling, but admits it was hard to devote the time to researching scholarships for continuing years, while taking university courses. But those scholarships are there and ripe for the picking.

“There is money being thrown away,” because it’s not being applied for, she said. “All it takes is a little elbow grease and a few goals, and you might end up with a little extra cash to help pay for school.”