Scholarships
Changes in latitudes,
changes in attitudes
by SUZANNE EVANS
Helping communities within the Queen Charlotte Islands by providing students with scholarships to universities in Hawaii, the Fernandez Earle Scholarship Foundation (FESF) has kindled ambition among many of the young Queen Charlotte residents.
The remote location, spectacular scenery and reputation for a slower pace of life are attractions that lure visitors to this region of B.C. every summer. But apart from a growing tourist industry, there are few opportunities for new generations born and bred on the islands.
A decline in traditional industries such as mining, logging and fishing means the economy in Haida Gwaii is in transition. Job prospects appear to be slowly dwindling for high school graduates, but over the past five years, thanks to the FESF, school kids are beginning to set their sights further afield.
“The possibility of this scholarship incites some of the students to work harder,” explains Angus Wilson, principal of Queen Charlotte City High School. “It’s something that parents know about, the kids and community know about, and it’s exciting. It’s also counteracting the idea that we’re a backwater nobody cares about, because the knowledge that nobody anywhere else gets these scholarships, it’s just for us—is really quite special. It jazzes up some of the kids who are keen.”
Awareness of the success students gain by receiving a FESF scholarship is something that’s progressively rising among the region’s high school students, particularly after one of the three students selected to date for a scholarship, Thea Borserio, toured schools in the area last year. Borserio conducted a slide show presentation on life as an undergraduate in Hawaii, and as a result motivation and applications are increasing.
“She had more of an impact than just saying ‘hey, there’s this scholarship to Hawaii’,” notes Wilson. “This is somebody who’s actually done it and it made the pupils think, ‘wow this is worth a lot of money’.”
The $100,000 price tag for tuition fees, living expenses and flights home means that a recipient of an FESF scholarship to university currently can be selected in the Queen Charlottes only once every two years. However, with the nearest degree courses located on the mainland of British Columbia, Wilson says securing further education of any kind for kids from Haida Gwaii is a bonus, because education is a costly endeavour for island families.
“The local university is in Prince George,” he says. “That’s two days from here so it can be a financial stretch.”
The combination of Haida Gwaii’s location and the lack of funds for further education has meant bright futures are rare for bright teens, but since the formation of the FESF in 2001 this is changing for a fortunate few.
“Many students from the Queen Charlotte Islands don’t really have the means to get off the island and get a good education—a lot of them are held back financially,” points out Rick Bourne, vice-chairperson of the FESF and owner of Langara Fishing Lodge. “It’s an opportunity for a dream to come true, enabling them to study—to give back to the island after their degree—we’re hoping this is a circle of life.”
Whether it results in being a lucky recipient or not, working toward being awarded a scholarship is proving a good exercise—the lengthy process is inspiring deep-rooted aspirations in many high school graduates, says Wilson.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into it and there’s a lot of exploration,” explains Wilson, who points out pupils have approximately a 25 per cent chance of getting a scholarship to university in Hawaii—another reason spurring them on to apply. “Even if kids don’t get an FESF scholarship it’s still constructive—they’ve done all of this work, and can think ‘I have this plan now so I’m going to try to get into a different university’—that’s good too. A lot of work goes into it and a lot of character comes out of it.”
Beverley Kniffen, chair of the FESF, says for the board of directors it’s rewarding seeing attitudes change in the communities situated on the 150 islands making up the Queen Charlottes. More optimistic outlooks, Kniffen says, mean a more positive future, and that’s in keeping with one of the the FESF strategies—changing communities through education.
“What always gets to people is the difference the FESF is making in the community,” she explains. “About 200 kids start kindergarten and 20 graduate Grade 12. That number is changing now and everybody in the community knows about the program and how much it has changed the community, which is really what our goals are about.”
For more information on the Fernandez Earle Scholarship Foundation, or
to apply for the next FESF scholarship award, please contact Beverley
Kniffen 604.638.1802.
FESF News 2007
FESF News 2006
FESF News 2005
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