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Fund supports North Vancouver students

NORTH Vancouver students were awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships and bursaries from the North Vancouver High School Education Foundation, a charity and non-profit society celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year.

NORTH Vancouver students were awarded more than $60,000 in scholarships and bursaries from the North Vancouver High School Education Foundation, a charity and non-profit society celebrating its 32nd anniversary this year.

According to a written statement, the foundation was formed in 1979 and was created when North Vancouver high school, situated on the corner of 23rd Street and St. Georges Avenue (where the provincial courthouse is now), closed. All donations and bequests go to helping students in North Vancouver.

In 1980, the foundation distributed 11 awards to students in North Vancouver. Over the years, its capital has grown through donations from reunions of graduates, donations from past students, teachers, and other interested parties, bequests, and special memorial funds. In 2011, 49 awards totalling more than $60,000 were presented to Grade 12 students.

Most of the foundation's scholarships and bursaries are named in honour of North Vancouver citizens. Other awards are made in the names of companies, corporations and special interest groups. For example, awards in the name of Jim Buchanan, Art Creelman, Norm Crute, John Enwright, Jeffrey Harbottle, Don Kay, Bill Lucas, Leo Marshall, Jim Martin, Warren Mayo, Mickey McDougall, Barry Sullivan and Nancy Wilson constitute a running history of North Vancouver and are testament to the amazing people who've lived in the community.

Each year, board members (sometimes accompanied by family representatives) attend graduation ceremonies, presenting the awards to the recipient students together with biographies of the persons for whom the scholarships and bursaries are named. It's the board's intention to ensure the history and legacy of these named individuals is passed on to the community's younger generations.

The foundation has approximately 40 members, including a board of 15, comprised of former students, and teachers (current and retired) with ties to North Vancouver high as well as various interested individuals. All are longtime North Vancouverites who volunteer their time with no financial remuneration of any kind.

Current board members include Briar Ballou, Cheryl Bernier, Maureen Creelman, Lauren Evanow, Joan Forrester, Tom Fox, Robert Hardy, Kate Lane, Barb McKinley, Cathy Bullock McNaughton, John Montgomery, Joe Parente, Pat Quan, Neil Salkus and George Saunders.

Each September for the past 29 years, board members have hosted a garden party for the recipients and their families, and those interested in their named scholarships and bursaries. At the party, recipients receive their cheques.

Those interested in creating a scholarship or bursary can phone George Saunders at 604-985-5793 or Neil Salkus at 604-924-2060.

General donations may be mailed directly to: North Vancouver High School Education Foundation, 101- 1485 Duchess Ave., West Vancouver, B.C., V7T 1H7.

For more information, visit www.nvhsef.org.

Send details, along with your contact information, for our regular Noteworthy Neighbours section to emcphee@nsnews. com.