Donor Stories

Students Donate Tuition to Local Cancer Charities

Stenberg College ‘Student of the Year’ recipients give back to community

Stenberg College presented the annual ‘Student of the Year’ Award at its graduation ceremony held on September 18th at the Chandos Pattison Auditorium in Surrey. This year’s recipient, Maricar Smith, donated her tuition reimbursement award in the amount of $9,900.00 to the B.C. Cancer Foundation.

Stenberg College selects its Student of the Year based on academic excellence, leadership, community service and volunteerism. Smith, a graduate of the Special Education Assistant Diploma Program, excels in all four areas. The award for the winning student is typically full tuition reimbursement. As a government funded student, Smith was not eligible for a tuition refund, but instead was able to donate the money to a charity of her choice.

After losing her sister-in-law to breast cancer, Smith chose to donate her award to the BC Cancer Foundation, which raises funds for cancer research and care at the BC Cancer Agency.  “Cancer affected my family 11 years ago,” stated Smith. “We lost my sister-in-law to brain cancer at the young age of 37. She left behind a husband and two young children. With this donation, I'm hoping to make a difference in the search for a cure and to help people diagnosed with cancer receive the best care possible.”

Accepting the donation on behalf of Smith was Kate Ludlam, Director of Development for the BC Cancer Agency- Fraser Valley, and keynote speaker Dr. Lee Ann Martin, Professional Practice Leader for Medical Oncology at the BC Cancer Agency’s Fraser Valley Centre. Ludlam was thrilled to receive this donation from Stenberg College through its Student of the Year recipient. “We are grateful to Stenberg College and to Maricar for supporting cancer research and care in our community and making a difference for those living with cancer,” explained Ludlam.

Located in Surrey, B.C., Stenberg College is a private career college specializing in health care and human services. Registered with the Private Career Training Institutions Agency of B.C., Stenberg College has been training students for over 18 years and has a job placement rate of 96 per cent within the graduates’ area of study, within six months of graduation.

The BC Cancer Foundation raises funds to support research and enhancements to patient care at the BC Cancer Agency, throughout B.C.