Scholarship recipients, Abigail Tew (centre left) and Sukh Basra (centre right) with CFUW Southport’s Scholarship Committee members (from left) Cheryl Grace, Jane Kramer, Sandie Primeau, Cathy Spence and Luz Maria Wilson June 15 at CFUW’s annual dinner at Saugeen Golf Club.
Hub Staff
Two graduates from Saugeen District Secondary School’s class of 2016 were officially honoured as Canadian Federation of University Women (CFUW) Southport scholarship recipients at the CFUW’s annual dinner at Saugeen Golf and Country Club June 15.
Graduates Abigail Tew and Sukh Basra received their scholarships during their commencement ceremony in the fall of 2016 and the two University students happily accepted an invitation to mix, mingle and speak at the Federation’s dinner which consisted of approximately 70 CFUW members.
The CFUW Southport provides four scholarships to secondary school graduates, including an Indigenous award, as well as two mature student awards throughout the year. Scholarship committee member Jane Kramer said the CFUW stands behind women in education, is a proponent of furthering education and does not want graduates to stop education themselves.
Kramer said that Abigail Tew, who just completed her first year at Western University for Health Sciences, received the Betty Colborne Memorial Scholarship. The annual $1,000 scholarship goes to the top SDSS female graduate going into the sciences. Betty Colborne was an original CFUW member and the money is donated by her family.
Sukh Basra, who attends Ulster University in Northern Ireland for Master of Pharmacy, received the $500 Southport scholarship for graduating as the top female student going to university.
Tew and Basra were both very thankful to receive the financial scholarships. Basra, who was unable to attend her commencement ceremony for logistical reasons but said winning the award came as a surprise and used the scholarship to help with tuition costs. “It was actually really nice to see that people in the groups here really support the students that plan to go out and get educated,” said Basra.
Tew also said her scholarship was put toward tuition fees. “It felt pretty good to be acknowledged and the money was really helpful,” she said, adding that her family was also very thankful for the scholarship which alleviated financial stress allowing her to dance with dance troupe This Is London, where Tew danced in the styles of contemporary and jazz, participating in two competitions and a charity fundraiser.
Both scholarship winners are home for the summer and are eager to go back to school this fall to complete their second year. Basra will be spending her summer working for the Saugeen Shores Chamber of Commerce as a Summer Tourist Information Assistant and Tew is working for the Town of Saugeen Shores at the Port Elgin Harbour.
Canadian Federation of University Women Southport scholarship winners Abigail Tew (left) and Sukh Basra at the CFUW’s annual dinner June 15 at Saugeen Golf Club. Tew is attending Western University for Health Sciences and Basra is attending Ulster University in Northern Ireland for Master of Pharmacy.
New CFUW Southport member Ruth-Anne Erwin with longtime member Jane Kramer June 15 at Saugeen Golf Club.
