Shoes on… check
Ticket… check
GPS coordinates… check
Wallet and keys… check
Flowers and card… check
I was finally ready to attend our very first graduation ceremony of a BBF-sponsored student-our first recipient of a full-ride BBF Bursary. And the learning went both ways. For example, BBF discovered weaknesses in our application and policies that became clear as our number 1 began their post-secondary education. These shortcomings were corrected in time for the next set of applications.
We are so proud of the student we will always call “Our Number 1”. Attending her Convocation at SFU was an absolute thrill and as an added bonus, I met her family for the first time. Mom was particularly grateful that her child had the opportunity to receive a higher education.
To be clear, this is the first time we have attended a Convocation Ceremony but it was not BBF’s first Graduate. Our 2nd recipient completed their program at VCC during Covid-19. Unfortunately, it was during the lockdown and they did not have a Graduation Ceremony. After receiving a diploma in Music they opted to furthering their education independently and are now studying Nursing.
Here we grow again!!
As I prepare for the convocation at SFU, I reflect back to five years ago when, for the first time, I had an almost identical checklist. But instead of flowers and a card I had an award certificate to present to our first BBF Bursary recipient. Since then, we have crossed the stage to present three more Full-Ride Bursary awards and one sizeable one-time grant. Last night we presented our fourth Full-Ride BBF Bursary certificate to a deserving secondary school graduate.
Bright Beginnings Foundation continues to flourish. We have two new Directors and each of them brings their own set of skills that complement those of the existing BBF team. We are thankful to have them on-board. In fact, now there are enough team members that we are able to have smaller committees. We have a Student Selection Committee and a very active Grant Committee. To see more about the BBF Directors, click this link.
Further evidence that we are growing is that we have made the decision to expand our area of focus. Up until now, our Bursary application was restricted to Surrey’s six inner-city secondary schools. We are happy to announce that next year all twenty-six secondary schools and five learning centres will be invited to nominate a student for the BBF Bursary.
In the words of our students…
“I deeply appreciate the support provided by the Bright Beginning Foundation thus far. This scholarship has alleviated the financial burden of education and I am truly grateful for your continued belief in my potential. BBF’s support has made a positive impact on my life, and I look forward to continuing to benefit from the BBF’s invaluable assistance in the future.”
“Thank you so much for coming to my Convocation today. Your presence means a lot. I hope you enjoyed the event and meeting my family! Please let me know of BBF events. I am so thankful to have you guys in my life.”
… in the first six months of 2023, we have raised enough funds to pay for an entire year of schooling for our new student!! This is exciting news but we are not slowing down as a result! We are always looking for new grants to apply for. And of course, we are always ready to accept your donations. Thank you
