Nearly $100,000 was awarded to the graduates of Hope Secondary School, entirely from local organizations, businesses, families and groups of individuals.
The stories behind the financial awards are endearing and speak to the community of Hope. But there was one special award handed out, We Are Hope, that really highlighted some of the hardest moments of this school year.
For four days in November, Hope secondary’s gymnasium was used to shelter, feed and comfort hundreds of stranded travellers after the atmospheric river events that closed all highways in and out of Hope.
Funds for We Are Hope were provided by the very people who found safe harbour in the school. Both Claire Medlock and Darby Link were chosen for the award.
“The recipients of this award were truly inspirational as they dedicated an immense amount of their own time to those who needed care and support in their hour of need,” the award description states.
Altogether more than 90 individual financial awards were handed out. The largest were two awards of $5,000 from the Ma & Pa Memory Lane Bursary, given to students who volunteered to the community.
Many of them were memorial bursaries, set up to help students succeed in their chosen fields in the names of residents who have passed. They include bursaries in the names of late school trustee John Koopman, FVRD Director Terry Raymond, Jean Scott, Clarence Kolcun, recreation director Dan Sharrers, Elaine Gardner, Frank Araki, Gust Edwards, Barry McKinney, Ken Campbell, Magdalena Magos Dayrit, Philip E. Nash, Robin McArthur and William H. Scott.
READ MORE: Early plans revealed for Rambo 40th anniversary celebration in Hope
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