Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) is celebrating the resilience of its Indigenous students at its third annual Giving Tuesday campaign.
KPU Foundation CEO Randall Heidt said this year's campaign, like previous years, focuses on supporting students who have overcome "many barriers and challenges" while studying.
“Indigenous students in particular have faced and overcome much to pursue post-secondary education and we are thrilled to work with our Indigenous Student Services team to bring to you a campaign that celebrates these students’ resilience and success," said Heidt.
The KPU Foundation's goal is to raise more than $175,000 by Nov. 29 to support Indigenous students.
Gayle Bedard, associate vice president of Indigenous Leadership, Innovations and Partnerships at KPU, thanks donors for giving gifts to help Indigenous students financially achieve their dreams.
"Your support ensures that there are awards available to them. hay cxʷ q̓ə,” said Bedard.
Meanwhile, a donation of $60,000 has been made by philanthropist Jim Bennett to the campaign, which will provide a $3,000 scholarship each year in perpetuity for students.
Almost $230,000 have been raised by the KPU Foundation from past Giving Tuesday campaigns, which has helped more than 230 students with awards and bursaries, according to a KPU media statement.
KPU Indigenous Fine Arts student Sylvia Simpson is this year's KPU Giving Tuesday image designer. Simpson's artwork titled Resilience features a strawberry flower, a design her great-grandmother sewed onto regalia she designed, to symbolized growth and new beginnings.
