Eight new donor-funded student awards established

Beryl and Walter Sussel with the 2015 recipient of the Sam Sussel Agribusiness Endowment Scholarship, Morgan Umpleby (centre).

Support from donors has enabled UFV to create eight new student awards since last summer.

Thanks to our caring donors and friends, UFV has established these awards, scholarships and bursaries — totaling over $137,250, which will mean an additional $8,500 for awards annually for UFV students.

Awards make a big difference in the lives of UFV students. Currently, UFV administers more than 300 awards annually.

Leadership Awards

The Kelty and Riley Dennehy Memorial Endowment Leadership Award year
One award of $500 per year

Ginny Dennehy

Established in loving memory of her two children, Kelty and Riley, UFV honorary doctorate recipient Ginny Dennehy wants to help students at UFV through this endowed award. According to their mom Ginny, they were not the best students but they were good students. They were not the best athletes but they were good athletes. Most importantly, they were two children who had warm, kind, gentle hearts who wanted to give back and make a difference so they could help others.

It is the family’s wish to have the recipient understand and make a difference for those who suffer from mental illness.

Richard Best Memorial Annual Leadership Award
One award of $1,000 from 2015 to 2020

This award was established in tribute to Richard Best, who worked for Davis LLP within the IT department. Davis LLP wanted to create this legacy for Richard, a UFV alumni (attended UFV in the ’70s when it was called Fraser Valley College). Established for a UFV student enrolled within any Computer Information System program stream who has demonstrated collaboration and in-class participation.

Scholarships

Modern Languages Institute Endowment Scholarship in French Studies (formerly Annual)
Two $500 awards per year

The Canadian Federal government provides additional funding for French studies and these funds can be used at the discretion of the MOLA department at UFV. The department established and funded an annual award until 2013 when it was converted to an endowed scholarship. The goal of the award is to encourage students to continue learning French at UFV.

This award is available to a 3rd or 4th year UFV student studying French. Preference will be given to students with a declared major or extended minor in French.

Sam Sussel Agri-Business Endowment Scholarship (formerly Annual)
One $1,000 award per year

Walter Sussel established this award in memory of his father. Sam Sussel immigrated to Canada in 1936 with his wife and children, a fugitive from the Nazi regime in Germany where he could no longer continue to practice as a lawyer. Settling in Chilliwack, in 1940 Sam started to farm. Due to his legal and business background, soon became a highly respected resource to the agricultural community in business matters. In 1949, he gave up farming to become a full-time accounting a agri-business consultant.

This scholarship is to be awarded to an Agriculture diploma student with the highest aggregate grade point average in the following courses: Enterprise Project, Part 1; Introduction to Agri-Economics; Essentials of Marketing; and Professional Selling.

Bursaries

The Marcellus Family Annual Bursary in English
Two $1,500 awards per year

The late Catherine Marcellus.

The Marcellus family has a heartfelt desire to support an English program student who is facing financial need as a way of celebrating their mother and grandmother’s passion and community involvement in writing activities. Dr. Catherine Marcellus was a respected UFV honorary doctorate recipient. Available to a UFV student currently enrolled in the BA degree program, this award is open to full-time students entering into their second, third, or fourth year of study. Students must demonstrate an interest in writing, English or literature and have completed a minimum of four courses in one of these areas.

The Marcellus Family Annual Bursary in Health Sciences
Two $1,500 awards per year

As a way of celebrating Dr. Jim Marcellus and his career in medicine, the Marcellus family has a heartfelt desire to support a nursing program student who is facing financial need. Available to a UFV student currently enrolled in the Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program, the award is open to full-time students entering into their second, third, or fourth year of study. Students may be in the Registered Nurse program.

Rachel Barsky Memorial Annual Bursary
One award of $500 per year

At age 14, Rachel Barsky succumbed to severe childhood asthma.An avid reader, her interests were beginning to turn to hair ribbons, nail polish, and boys. Nonetheless, her focus, disciplined study habits and intelligence ensured her academic success, despite missing many days of school due to illness. With a penchant for languages and aspirations to become an interpreter, Rachel doubtless would have been a university scholar.

The Barsky family establish this bursary to provide a student in Upgrading and University Preparation, Faculty of Applied and Technical Studies, Faculty of Health Sciences, Faculty of Professional Studies or Faculty of Science with this award. Preference given to a student who is the first in their family to attend university.

Dr. Walter and Mrs. Beryl Sussel Endowment Bursary
One $1,500 award per year

Dr. and Mrs. Sussel’s intent in establishing this bursary is to support mature individuals in financial need who have chosen to go back to school to pursue further education. Both Walter and Beryl Sussel pursued higher education as mature students and experienced the attendant challenges. They understand the mature student’s needs to raise a family, study and be employed at the same time. The student must be a Chilliwack resident or have attended a Chilliwack high school. Recipient must maintain a 2.5 GPA and be enrolled in a minimum 60% course load/9 credits.

Are you interested in discussing establishing a UFV award? Contact Sheila Reimer or Sherri Magson for more information.