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COFI awards 13 scholarships to mark National Forest Week

The BC Council of Forest Industries (COFI) is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of COFI’s Forestry Scholarships during the celebration of National Forest Week, Sept. 22-28, 2019.

“We’re proud to support the education of these talented students from around the province as they embark on their future careers in the B.C. forest sector,” said Susan Yurkovich, President and CEO of COFI. “Despite our current challenges, we continue to see a bright future for this important industry – a future where British Columbia can be a model for the world in product innovation, technological advances, and environmental care, supporting skilled jobs in communities throughout B.C.”

The forest industry has been a cornerstone of the B.C. economy for more than 100 years, generating about 140,000 jobs in our province, including one in four jobs in the manufacturing sector. 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.

“British Columbia’s forestry sector is changing and I’m certain each of these students will be a big part of shaping what will be a bright future of forestry in B.C.,” said Minister of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development Doug Donaldson. “On behalf of all British Columbians I want to congratulate this year’s COFI Scholarship recipients and wish you much success in your future.”

These scholarships will support 13 students in their studies at six post-secondary learning institutions across British Columbia. The 2019 scholarship winners are:

• Cameron Bellamy, Port Moody, studying forest operations at the University of British Columbia
• Kyasha Guretski Robinson, Vancouver, studying forest and natural areas management at the BC Institute of Technology
• Mason Kenzle , Houston, studying commerce at the University of Northern British Columbia
• Grady Kragt, Hixon, studying natural resources and forest technology at the College of New Caledonia
• Keana Lefebvre, Quesnel, studying natural resources and forest technology at the College of New Caledonia
• Marie-Eve Lavoie, Prince George, studying natural resources and forest technology at the College of New Caledonia
• Jayan Nickolet, Mackenzie, studying power engineering at the College of New Caledonia
• Cameron Nikkel, South Hazelton, studying to become a heavy-duty mechanic at Thompson Rivers University
• Ian Penninga, Smithers, studying wood products processing at the University of British Columbia
• Robin Ripley, Victoria, studying forest and natural areas management at the BC Institute of Technology
• Andrew Takacs, New Westminster, studying forest and natural areas management at the BC Institute of Technology
• Mark Tallman, North Vancouver, studying forest technology at Selkirk College
• Zachary Whitecotton, Vanderhoof, studying natural resources and forest technology at the College of New Caledonia