$1.5 million awarded to date
MISSISSAUGA, Ontario, Aug. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Knowledge First Financial today announced ten post graduate scholarships, awarding $120,000 to students who are seeking to make a meaningful impact on the world. The ten winners demonstrated an exceptional ability to balance outstanding academics while being immersed in their communities through volunteering, research, athletics or paid work. The students are pursuing diverse fields from a Doctor of Medicine at the University of British Columbia to a Master’s in Environmental Studies at Lakehead University.
To date, Knowledge First has awarded over $1,500,000 in graduate scholarships. They are an extension of the company’s commitment to inspire students to realize life’s possibilities. Six of the ten winners completed their undergraduate studies with the help of a Knowledge First RESP.
“Our experience shows that financial support from a RESP helps students succeed,” said George Hopkinson, President and CEO, Knowledge First Financial Inc. “Students can focus on their academics and be involved in their communities which creates an important foundation for future success. This year’s scholarship recipients demonstrated an outstanding ability to juggle both. I offer sincere congratulations to each student.”
This year, there was a significant increase (69%) in the number of applications due to the support from ScholarshipsCanada.com, a leading aggregator of scholarship and bursary information for students.
“Academic marks are no longer the only focus for most scholarships,” says Chris Wilkins, Founder & CEO of ScholarshipsCanada.com. “Students are evaluated on their achievements in other areas and overall leadership skills really stand out in a scholarship application.”
The passion behind each of the student’s success is captured in this presentation <link> along with their goals for graduate studies. Congratulations to each student recipient on their achievements.
| 2018 Knowledge First Financial Graduate Scholarship Awards | |||
| Award | Name | Area of Study | |
| $25,000 | Abbie MacNeil | Master of Nursing, Dalhousie University | |
| $15,000 | Sam Abernethy | PhD, Applied Physics, Stanford University | |
| $10,000 | Tiffany Bennett | Master of Science, London School of Economics | |
| $10,000 | Kelly Dong | Doctor of Medicine, University of Toronto | |
| $10,000 | Sarah Gray | Master of Public Administration, Dalhousie University | |
| $10,000 | Tracy Huynh | Doctor of Medicine, Univ. British Columbia | |
| $10,000 | Sandra Krause | Master of Clinical Psychology, Concordia University | |
| $10,000 | Meagan McCardle | Master in Data Science, Brown University | |
| $10,000 | Rebecca Ng | Master of Science, McMaster University | |
| $10,000 | Stephanie Potter | Master of Environmental Studies, Lakehead University | |
The Knowledge First Financial Graduate Scholarship Awards are offered to students entering first-year of graduate studies who have a strong record of academic achievement balanced with involvement in athletics, community service and volunteer activities. Details about next year’s program will be available at www.knowledgefirstfinancial.ca in early 2019.
About Knowledge First Financial
Canadian families have relied on education savings plans offered by Knowledge First Financial for more than 50 years. Since 1965, payments from the plans have reached $4.2 billion and the Knowledge First Foundation has further enhanced Education Assistance Payments to students by over $50 million. Today, the company manages $3.6 billion in assets.
Knowledge First Financial Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Foundation and is the investment fund manager, administrator and distributor of Registered Education Savings Plans. Knowledge First Foundation is a not-for-profit Canadian corporation with no share capital. The Foundation is therefore able to reinvest excess revenues in initiatives that support student success.
About ScholarshipsCanada.com
ScholarshipsCanada.com is part of the SchoolFinder Group and is dedicated to helping students realize their dreams. This free-of-charge website has been helping students find scholarships and bursaries since 1997. The site matches students to more than 85,000 scholarships listed - worth over $193 million.
For more information
Suzanne Martyn-Jones
VP, Communications and Public Relations
Knowledge First Financial Inc.
905 270-8777, ext. 4247
smartynjones@kffinancial.ca
Morgan Murphy
Smithcom Ltd.
416-629-2143
morgan.murphy@smithcom.ca
A video accompanying this announcement is available at: http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee087707-92c9-4169-b3d3-7d15b4e664ca