In my grade 12 year of high school, a teacher of mine briefly mentioned the Beedie Luminaries scholarship, saying that I should apply. That was the first time I heard about the Beedie Luminaries program. Fast forward to today, as a proud recipient of the scholarship, I can confidently say it has changed my life.
What is Beedie Luminaries?
If this is your first time hearing about Beedie Luminaries, know that it is beyond just a scholarship. Beyond the $44,000 per student for a 4-year undergraduate program, Beedie Luminaries is a community full of aspiring students who have overcome adversity.
One of the requirements for applicants is to demonstrate financial adversity and intend to be full-time students. As a first-generation immigrant in Canada raised by a single parent, Beedie Luminaries has enabled me to achieve an important milestone: Becoming the first-generation university student in my family. Luminaries provided me with guidance and resources as I navigated the unfamiliar world of higher education without a parent who had done it before me.
Impact on My Academic Success
Within the scholarship program, a recipient can access mentors and a student success program where students can book office hours with their dedicated student success advisor. Think of it like academic advising appointments, except they are not school-exclusive. Student success advisors are there to support students in any way they can. During my last appointment, I asked my advisor if they could be one of my references for an upcoming interview.
Additionally, there are multiple requirements to retain the scholarship title, such as maintaining a certain GPA and completing a certain number of credits each year. This helps me stay motivated and on track with my academic goals.
Impact on Other Aspects of My Life
The Relational & Emotional Agility Leadership (REAL) Team program is a core part of the Beedie Luminaries program. Facilitated by two amazing coaches, the REAL Team program consists of biweekly meetings with small teams of around 6-10 students in each team. Sometimes the meetings are led by the coaches, and other times they are student led. The goal of these meetings is for students to support each other to be accountable for their personal and social goals for the term. This is done through the use of models taught in the REAL Training, something that everyone has to complete prior to committing to a REAL Team.
I have been involved in REAL Teams for three semesters, during which I have gained valuable insights about myself, including relational and emotional agility skills. Outside the biweekly meetings, the REAL Teams do an annual retreat, and the coaches have office hours to book and chat with (school and non-school-related!)
Moving Forward
I am so grateful that receiving this scholarship has set me on a different path. Within Beedie Luminaries, there are multiple scholarship program opportunities, including one for graduate students. This is for already current Luminaries who wish to pursue graduate programs in their field. As someone interested in doing so, knowing that Beedie Luminaries extends beyond my undergraduate studies gives me a unique advantage. Finding a scholarship that invests in its recipients’ long-term success is rare, but Beedie Luminaires is not your typical scholarship program. I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of this community, knowing I have the long-term resources and encouragement to push myself and pursue my aspirations.
Applications!
There are five different programs to support students: Grade 12, single parents, refugees and immigrants, graduate students, and tradespeople. Applications are now open to all programs and will be closed on December 16, 1pm PST. If you know someone wanting to pursue a higher education and meet the requirements, word of mouth is the best way to spread the word!
For more information, check out the Beedie Luminaries website!