Metro Vancouver, B.C. – Laura Szendrei’s quiet generosity will continue through a scholarship in her name at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
The Laura Szendrei Memorial Endowed Scholarship was created through a $20,000 donation that will establish a lifetime of financial support for Delta youth in the young girl's memory.
The endowment was raised through a community-wide fundraising and awareness initiative, which includes the yearly Walk, Run and Roll event, held Sunday at North Delta Secondary. It will fund an annual $1,000 scholarship for a student enrolled in a KPU program who is passionate about giving back to others, as Szendrei was.
“Laura was kind, gregarious yet humble, and a hard-working, kind-hearted young woman,” said school mate Kirsten Martin.
Szendrei was a grade 10 French-immersion Burnsview student who was devoted to her family, and treasured all the time she spent with them. She loved sports and the outdoors, was an avid soccer player, and was active in her local church.
The endowment was made possible through several five- and 10-kilometre memorial runs organized by Brian White, Diane and Darlene Maclean, Wendy Colville, the Szendrei family and many volunteers.
In the wake of Szendrei’s tragic death in 2010, a group of concerned citizens got together to form a committee. They have since organized events to raise funds for a lifetime scholarship in Szendrei’s name. The committee has also helped fund and build the Laura Szendrei Memorial Garden at Burnsview Secondary.
“For four years I’ve had the privilege to work with people devoted to supporting youth, and who continue to do so in Laura’s name. They’ve been committed to positively impacting their community in the wake of such a tragedy, and will now do so for a lifetime with an endowed scholarship that supports Delta students pursuing post-secondary education at KPU,” said Debbie Mellenger, KPU advancement officer.
The Laura Szendrei Memorial Scholarship Foundation’s mission is to raise awareness of crime in the community. The memorial Walk, Run and Roll, as well as the foundation’s other initiatives, seek crime prevention through education and awareness.
For more information, visit: lswalkrunroll.com. Learn more about the Kwantlen Polytechnic University Foundation here.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region for 30 years, and has opened doors to success for more than 250,000 people. Four campuses—Richmond, Surrey, Cloverdale and Langley—offer a comprehensive range of sought-after programs, including business, liberal arts, science, design, health, trades and technology, apprenticeships, horticulture, and academic and career advancement. Over 19,000 students annually have a choice from over 124 programs, including bachelor’s degrees, associate degrees, diplomas, certificates and citations. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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Caption: (From left) KPU advancement officer Debbie Mellenger, Sharon Ciccozzi, Diane MacLean, Darlene MacLean and Brian White at North Delta Secondary for the fourth annual Laura Szendrei Memorial Walk Run Roll.
Media contact:
Hayley Woodin
Media Specialist, KPU
t: 604.599.2883
c: 604.364.1288
hayley.woodin@kpu.ca
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kpu.ca/newsroom