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Thompson Rivers University awarded close to half a million dollars to students at its Annual Foundation Awards Ceremony today.

TRU students received almost half a million dollars in Financial Aid at the 2011 ceremony.

Representatives of the 288 donor sponsors awarded 471 TRU students $466,861 in scholarships and bursaries, a 4 per cent increase over last year.

The chair of the TRU Foundation, John O’Fee, addressed the donors and students saying, “For 29 years the TRU Foundation has been supporting students and the university. During this time, the Foundation through the generosity of our donors has built an endowment portfolio for student assistance of $10.9 million dollars. Last year the Foundation raised $3,052,000 dollars for students, buildings and programs at TRU. This is the first time we have reached the $3 million mark in annual funds raised. This milestone could not have been achieved without the continued support of our donors and the hard work and efforts of the volunteers and staff team.”

Danielle Thibault, left, was recognized as winner of the 2011 Lieutenant Governor's Silver Medal at the Foundation Awards event on Nov. 24. She is seen here with TRU President and Vice-Chancellor Alan Shaver.

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The 2011 Lieutenant Governor’s silver medal was also awarded to Danielle Thibault during the ceremony on Nov. 24. This medal is awarded to a student in a one-year post-secondary program who demonstrates both high marks and community service. Now a full-time Bachelor of Arts student, Thibault was recently selected by the Senate Awards and Honours Committee as the 2011 certificate graduate who best embodies these criteria for her excellent CGPA of 4.08 obtained during the Community and School Support Certificate program.

“Today, a learning community and a caring community come together to help people improve their lives. This, I believe, clearly symbolizes what TRU stands for. We should all be very proud of what the people in this room represent for TRU, for Kamloops and for Higher Education in general,” said Alan Shaver, President and Vice-chancellor.

For the first time the TRU Foundation was able to support students in the Faculty of Law:

• George Lamperson Memorial Law Bursary of $1,000 to Oliver Potestio,
• Kamloops Bar Association Bursary of $1,000 to Ashley Ricalton and the
• Bill W. Eremko Memorial Law Bursary of $750 to Amanda Strangways

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