VIU AWARDS TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS

Nineteen first-year students received full tuition scholarships to pursue their undergraduate studies at Vancouver Island University (VIU) because of their outstanding and athletic achievement in high school.

VIU President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ralph Nilson formally congratulated the students at a special reception last week.

“We are very proud to welcome these top young and emerging scholars to VIU,” said Nilson. “In high school, each student has demonstrated a true commitment to excelling in their educational pursuits and we want each of them to continue their success at VIU.”

The awards are renewable each year providing the recipients maintain a high grade point average. Each scholarship is worth over $21,000.

VIU awards entrance scholarships to students in three categories – top high school students, scholar athletes and Aboriginal students.

VIU’s dedicated faculty and staff will ensure that each student will be challenged to excel at the highest level.


Nanaimo students Darian Degroot (John Barsby Secondary), Madison Graf (Cedar Secondary), Aaron Halsall (Woodlands Secondary), Tram-Anh Hoang-Pham (Nanaimo District Secondary), Julia MacDonald (Nanaimo Christian School), Maziroh Mach (Wellington Secondary) all received President’s Entrance Scholarships.

Taelar Keir (Wellington Secondary) and Keegan Lang (Dover Bay), both of Nanaimo, received a President’s Entrance Award for Scholar Athletes. Keir is a member of the VIU Mariners women’s basketball team while Lang plays on the VIU Mariners men’s soccer team.

David Aarsen (Cedar Secondary) and James Lattanzio-Battle (Dover Bay), and Montanna Mjaaland received a VIU Chancellor’s Entrance Scholarship for Aboriginal students.

These and other scholarship recipients from Vancouver Island communities including Lake Cowichan, Port Alberni, Courtenay, Oak Bay and Duncan attended the President’s reception with their parents and other family members.


Recipients expressed gratitude and relief in being able to focus on their studies without financial worries.

Aaron Halsall (Woodlands Secondary) says the award makes a huge difference. “It alleviates any financial stress and allows me to focus on my studies,” said Halsall, a student in the Bachelor of Science program at VIU. “It’s also convenient to live at home while attending university.”

The President’s Scholarship program was created in 2008 when VIU became a full university. Entrance awards are designed to encourage and support top scholars to complete their undergraduate degrees locally at VIU.

President’s Entrance Scholarships are awarded annually to top academic students from high schools on Vancouver Island and in Powell River.

Up to six Chancellor’s Award Scholarships for Aboriginal students are awarded each year to top academic applicants from First Nations communities, Friendship Centres and Metis organizations on Vancouver Island and in Powell River.

VIU also issues up to eight annual President’s Entrance Awards for Scholar Athletes. Eligible students must be top academic varsity athletes as selected and recruited by the coaching staff in the men’s and women’s volleyball, basketball, soccer, badminton and golf programs.

The top student in each academic faculty at VIU also receives scholarships if they continue their post-secondary studies into their third year.

The President’s Scholarship program covers tuition only. Additional fees, including student union fees, student activity fees and medical/dental plans must be covered by the student.

Providing students continue to meet course load requirements and maintain a first-class standing, their scholarships may be renewed for the duration of their four-year degree to a maximum of five years.

For more information, contact VIU’s Financial Aid and Awards office at (250) 740-6423 or FinancialAidInfo@viu.ca. For more about VIU, visit www.viu.ca

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Media Contact


Janina Stajic, Manager, Communications and Public Engagement, Vancouver Island University P: 250.740.6288 E: Communications@viu.ca Twitter: @VIUNews