Burnaby graduates surpass $10.9 million in awards
Burnaby’s graduating class has collected more than $10.9 million in scholarships, bursaries and related awards this year, a sum the school district says is in line with recent totals. The sustained level of support underscores both the financial pressures facing students and the growing range of award categories now recognizing academic excellence, athletic commitment, community leadership and pathways into the skilled trades.
Among this year’s recipients is Burnaby North Secondary graduate Lar Sisrian, who learned she had received a $150,000 Uggla Family Scholarship to study at Simon Fraser University. She said the award will allow her to focus on her studies while continuing her community involvement, without the immediate financial strain of tuition.
“They were all pretty stoked,” Sisrian said of her family’s reaction. “Coming from a place where education is not guaranteed for everybody and leadership opportunities are not guaranteed for anybody, that made me want to try harder and work for something bigger.”
Sisrian moved to Canada from Syria in 2019 and later served as president of Burnaby North’s student government. She hopes to work in global affairs or immigration after university, an aspiration she says is shaped by her own experience and the value she places on civic leadership.
District sees consistent totals and broader pathways
Nick Christofides, the Burnaby school district’s director of instruction, described significant scholarships as both a validation and a practical bridge to longer programs of study. He said the district’s cumulative award totals have remained steady in recent years.
“It’s a lifeline, really, to finish your training or pursue your training without a great cost, hopefully, at the end,” he said. “I’d say the last three years have hovered in and around $11 million.”
Christofides said this year’s awards span multiple streams, including academics and athletics, as well as recognition for students heading into the skilled trades and those demonstrating leadership in their communities. He also pointed to a rise in scholarships tied to trades, science, technology and sustainability, mirroring areas where students and employers see growing demand.
What the awards cover
- Academic and athletic: Recognition for high achievement in coursework and competitive sport.
- Skilled trades: Funding that supports apprenticeship and career-technical pathways.
- Community leadership: Awards acknowledging service and civic engagement.
- Emerging focus areas: Increasing opportunities in trades, science, technology and sustainability.
District staff co-ordinate efforts to help students identify and apply for opportunities, reflecting how competitive the landscape has become for major awards. That support is especially critical for multi-year post-secondary programs where early, stable funding can shape a student’s ability to commit and persist.
Signals for Burnaby families
The combination of a steady ~$11 million in total awards and broader categories suggests two practical takeaways for local families: awards are available across a spectrum of student interests, and the district’s support systems aim to help applicants navigate them. For those entering fields such as technology, sustainability or the trades, the district’s experience this year indicates expanding recognition and targeted funding.
| Award focus | District observation |
|---|---|
| Academics & athletics | Ongoing core streams of support |
| Skilled trades | More scholarships connected to trades |
| Science & technology | Increasing number of linked awards |
| Sustainability | Growing presence among opportunities |
| Overall totals (recent years) | Hovering around $11M, including this year’s $10.9M+ |
For students like Sisrian, the combination of financial security and institutional recognition can be transformative, allowing them to focus on academics and community work. For the district, the results are a barometer of how well school-based supports, mentorship and application guidance are helping students convert potential into funded opportunities.
The latest tally will encourage students across Burnaby’s schools to consider a wider array of applications in the coming year. It also sets a benchmark for continued district outreach to families and community partners as scholarships evolve to reflect changing educational and labour market priorities.
