Richmond, B.C. – Last week, the Canada Wenzhou Friendship Society donated $20,000 to establish an endowed scholarship for international students who choose to study at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU).
During the Mid-Autumn Festival at the society’s new clubhouse facility in Richmond, the organization launched what will become a legacy in perpetuity – an annual $1,000 scholarship that will support a student from China studying accounting in KPU’s School of Business.
“The main purpose for creating this scholarship at KPU is to support local education in the best way possible,” explained Iris Lin, Secretary General of the Canada Wenzhou Friendship Society. “Culturally, the Chinese often place a high value on education. While most of our members are not born in Canada, as new Canadians they are able to access education that is open to local and international students alike. As a charity organization, we are always looking for opportunities to care, and making this contribution to education marks the achievement of one of our long-term goals.”
The Canada Wenzhou Friendship Society is a non-profit organization founded in B.C. in 2001 by immigrants from the Chinese city of Wenzhou. Based in Richmond, the organization was created to promote Wenzhou culture in Canada, and strives “to provide opportunities for people from Wenzhou to meet each other, to provide unity, to offer assistance, and to participate in social welfare.”
Beginning in 2018, a yearly scholarship will be awarded to a student who meets the selection criteria. This is the organization’s first endowed scholarship.
For more information on the KPU Foundation, visit: kpu.ca/foundation.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University has been serving the Metro Vancouver region since 1981, 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, 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 citations and apprenticeships. Learn more at www.kpu.ca.
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Caption: (From left) Tiensu Tsang, honorary president of the Wenzhou Society, presents KPUAA board member Brandon Hastings with an endowed scholarship donation, alongside current Wenzhou Society President Miaofei Pan. The cheque was presented during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebration at the society’s new clubhouse in Richmond.
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
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