Paper Excellence and Vancouver Island University create Indigenous Success Fund

Paper Excellence has partnered with Vancouver Island University (VIU) to create the Paper Excellence Indigenous Success Fund.

The new scholarship fund is offering financial support to Indigenous students enrolled in trades programs at VIU. Paper Excellence has contributed $60,000 to the fund, which will be distributed over three years.

“On behalf of Paper Excellence, we are very excited to be working with VIU on the Paper Excellence Indigenous Success Fund to support Indigenous students in British Columbia,” said Graham Kissack, vice-president of EHS and corporate communications for Paper Excellence. “It’s our pleasure to help make the experience at VIU just a little bit easier financially and want to wish the recipients of the fund all the best in their studies and future careers.”

Indigenous trades students are eligible to apply for the fund and will receive up to $2,000 each academic year. Disbursements to the students began in January.

“VIU thanks Paper Excellence for this generous gift. This gift will support students who are on the verge of not being able to continue their studies due to financial constraints. Paper Excellence is supporting students when they need it the most,” said Richard Horbachewski, executive director of the VIU Foundation. “These scholarships offer support in a timely and effective manner, so students don’t have to put their dreams on pause when personal circumstances throw barriers in their path.”

Paper Excellence has supported post-secondary institutions through similar funding partnerships at College of the Rockies, Saskatchewan Polytechnic and Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technology.