Industry News News Education
COFI awards 12 scholarships to students pursuing forestry careers

The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) is pleased to announce the recipients of COFI’s 2020 Forestry Scholarships during the celebration of National Forest Week, September 20 to 26, 2020.

COFI established its forestry scholarship in 2007 with the goal of encouraging young people to choose professional, technical, or trades careers in the forest sector. Scholarship recipients will each receive $1500 to support their studies at post-secondary learning institutions across British Columbia.

“This year, we are proud to support these 12 talented future leaders as they begin their educational journeys,” said Susan Yurkovich, president & CEO of COFI. “We’re hopeful that the path they choose through their studies will lead them to an exciting career in the forest industry.”

The forest industry generates over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs in B.C., including one in four jobs in the manufacturing sector.

“Forestry has been a cornerstone of B.C.’s economy for over 100 years”, said Yurkovich. “Looking forward, with the world increasingly turning to low-carbon wood products, we welcome the next generation of students who may consider a future in what will continue to be a dynamic and innovative industry.”

The 2020 scholarship winners are:

• Samantha Rush, Victoria, studying to be a forest technician at Vancouver Island University 
• Morgan Wood, Prince George, studying to be a welder at the College of New Caledonia 
• Dylan Strelaeff, Castlegar, studying forest technology at Selkirk College 
• Olivia Card, Monte Creek, studying forest and natural areas management at BC Institute of Technology 
• Patrick Vahi, Vanderhoof, studying natural resources management at the University of Northern British Columbia
• Joseph Frisby, Quesnel, studying natural resources and forest technology at the College of New Caledonia 
• Darcy Green, Abbotsford, studying forest and natural areas management at BC Institute of Technology 
• Alexander Itcush, Port Moody, studying forest technology at Selkirk College 
• Jennifer Lindley, Nanaimo, studying to be a forestry resource technician at Vancouver Island University 
• Ethan Bisschop, Smithers, studying forest and natural areas management at the BC Institute of Technology 
• Oliver Kildaw, Smithers, studying environmental engineering at the University of Northern British Columbia 
• Skyler Penninga, Smithers, studying forestry at the University of Northern British Columbia