Seven students graduating from Greater Victoria schools this year are Beedie Luminaries – earning scholarships of up to $44,000.
Vic High students Naiomi Holland, Savannah Bartleman and Faeze Naderi, along with Oak Bay High 2024 graduates Samantha Gomez Bedingfield and Jemima Rouby as well as Spectrum’s Madyson Grigolato earned the scholarships that recognize promising B.C. students who have faced life challenges and adversity with determination and resilience.
"Receiving the Beedie Luminaries scholarship has made a big impact on my life and raised my confidence knowing that hard work does pay off one way or another. This scholarship is an amazing opportunity that I am beyond honoured to receive,” said Holland.
The scholarships, worth up to $44,000 each for undergraduate studies and $50,000 for graduate studies, will go to 113 Grade 12 students, 13 graduate students, 14 refugee and immigrant students and 27 single parents. Since 2019, Beedie Luminaries has awarded a total of $35 million in scholarships to 792 students from communities across the province.
“Being awarded a Beedie Luminaries scholarship is such an honour. Beedie Luminaries is a scholarship that invests in the person you are. They want to see you succeed, and they offer incredible support to get you there,” Rose said.
For many the scholarship means the difference between being able to attend post-secondary or not.
“Having this scholarship allows me to focus on my studies without the added stress of having to pay back loans or work excessively. That comfort and peace of mind sincerely mean everything to me. This scholarship could benefit so many other B.C. students as well for that reason,” Grigolato said.
Alongside the up to $44,000 over four years, the program includes mentors, student success managers, peer support groups, paid internships and ongoing support from the Beedie Luminaries community.
“I recommend that students who are facing hardship consider applying for a Beedie Luminaries scholarship – not just for the financial support, but also for the other types of support that it provides such as events, access to mentors, a digital community group that connects you with students with similar challenges and backgrounds, and much more,” Rouby said.
Beedie Luminaries was founded on Nov. 13, 2018 with a $50-million donation from Ryan Beedie that coincided with his 50th birthday. Since then, it has grown into one of the most comprehensive scholarship programs in Canada.
Students who are interested in applying to be part of next year’s cohort are encouraged to follow Beedie Luminaries on social media or visit beedieluminaries.ca. The application period for the 2025 cohort opens in the fall.