Lucas Warner was one of 655 students to receive a financial boost at the annual TRU Foundation Awards ceremony on Thursday, Nov. 28.
Awards have played a huge role in allowing Warner to focus on nursing school and get involved in the community. Without financial aid, he would have missed out on opportunities like joining the BC Nurses’ Union as student liaison.
Students received $775,000—the most ever awarded—in donor-funded scholarships, bursaries and awards at the annual TRU Foundation Awards ceremony. University donors gathered in the gymnasium to personally present their awards to students.
This fall term, the foundation disbursed more than $1 million on behalf of university donors.
Q&A with award recipient Lucas Warner
Why did you choose TRU?
TRU has an excellent reputation for its nursing program. I have also lived most of my life in Kamloops and really love the city and surrounding natural environment.
How would you characterize your experience at TRU?
I studied at TRU prior to my nursing studies and have witnessed how the university has grown both physically and in terms of opportunities available to students and campus community. My experience of TRU is that it offers smaller class sizes than larger institutions while providing excellent education. The campus is highly diverse and conveniently situated near amenities and entertainment in Kamloops.
What does receiving a scholarship or bursary mean to you?
Receiving a scholarship or bursary means that I can worry less about my financial situation and spend more time engaging with my studies and my community. It also means reduced stress and increased time to practice self-care.
How have these awards influenced the course of your education?
Because of the opportunities I have pursued with the financial support of awards I have been better able to build a sense of direction in my career. I feel that I would not have as strong a sense of self heading into the nursing profession if I had been occupied more with financial constraints.
The ongoing general bursary and awards application reopens Dec. 1, 2019. Students can find more information here.
