The bursary Casey Reumkens received this spring is allowing her to focus on her goal of becoming a teacher without worrying about how she’s going to pay for her education. Photo Credit: Vancouver Island University
The Ripples of Change campaign aims to raise $2 million for student scholarships, awards and bursaries by Spring 2027.
Vancouver Island University (VIU) is launching a fundraising campaign to address the main reason students pause their studies or decide not to pursue post-secondary at all – financial barriers.
The Ripples of Change campaign runs until Spring of 2027 and aims to raise $2 million to boost the number and amount of financial awards the university can give to students. This year, 2,400 students applied for the 1,467 available financial awards. The campaign aims to not only meet the growing need but also provide more support to each student.
Financial help makes a huge difference for students like Casey Reumkens. Returning to school as a mature student, she was unsure how she was going to pay for her education.
Many entrance scholarships are awarded to high school students transitioning directly from high school. Reumkens chose to take a few years off before returning, as she graduated from high school during the pandemic and does not learn well in an online-only format. Her gap years solidified for her what she wants to do with her life – she’s in her first year of the Bachelor of Education program at VIU – but she was anxious about going into debt to become a teacher.
That’s when she learned she would receive the Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation’s Little Mountain Student Bursary, given to students from the Oceanside area who are in financial need and are either single parents, mature learners, Indigenous or the first in their family to go to post-secondary. The bursary is $6,000 per semester per student and can be renewed for up to four years if recipients maintain their grades and are in financial need.
“This award is honestly life-changing,” says Reumkens. “It will allow me to focus on my studies and my goal of becoming an elementary school teacher. Knowing I will leave school debt-free is also hugely helpful. As a first-generation university student, I feel proud and grateful to be studying and furthering my career goals. Having this support is validating and reminds me I am where I am meant to be.”
An investment in VIU students is an investment in the future of Vancouver Island, said Lee Rowley, VIU Foundation Chair.
“Every gift creates a ripple of impact and helps a student stay in school and reach their full potential,” he said. “As inflation and living costs continue to rise, demand for financial assistance also rises. Support from donors helps close this gap for students facing financial hardship.”
For donors like the Parksville Qualicum Community Foundation, the cause is an easy one to support.
“We are thankful for the generosity of our local donors, which has allowed the Parksville-Qualicum Community Foundation to make this meaningful philanthropic investment in student bursaries for Oceanside students,” said Charlene Smith, Executive Director. “By focusing on learners who face the greatest barriers, we’re helping local students stay enrolled, reduce financial stress and continue their education close to home.”
Many students tell Dr. Dennis Johnson, Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, how life-changing the education they receive at VIU is, helping them acquire the knowledge, skills and training to meet their career goals. Students are excited to use this newfound knowledge for the benefit of the community, he adds.
“Our future depends on supporting a diverse range of people to access education, no matter their financial status,” said Johnson. “By supporting students today, we build a healthier, more resilient region tomorrow.”
To learn more about the campaign, visit viu.ca/ripples.
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Media Contact:
Jenn McGarrigle, External Communications Manager, Vancouver Island University
C: 250.619.6860 | E: Jenn.McGarrigle@viu.ca | W: news.viu.ca
The VIU community acknowledges and thanks the Snuneymuxw, Quw’utsun, Tla’amin, Snaw-naw-as and Qualicum First Nation on whose traditional lands we teach, learn, research, live and share knowledge.
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