An engineering student from New West is among the recipients of a Women in Technology scholarship.
Sarah Vilay, an engineering student at Simon Fraser University, is one of 15 students from B.C., Alberta and the Northwest Territories to receive 2024 Women in Technology and Indigenous Women in Technology scholarships. The BC Scholarship Society awarded the scholarships, which are intended to create a strong framework to support women in technology in British Columbia.
“When we empower women to pursue education in science and technology, we unlock diverse perspectives, said Firas Abbasi, chair of the BC Scholarship Society. “Supporting women in these studies is not just a matter of equity, it is a catalyst for innovation.”
Scholarship recipients were honoured at a Nov. 16 ceremony at the H.R. MacMillan Science Centre in Vancouver.
Vilay, a Sapperton resident, attended Douglas College and completed an engineering foundations certificate at its New West campus before heading to SFU, where she is now studying sustainable energy engineering.
"Being awarded this scholarship means a lot to me,” Vilay said in an email to the Record. “Not only will it help with my tuition, but it reaffirms my choice to pursue engineering as my second career.”
According to the society, Women in Technology scholarships are awarded to selected applicants based on their unique narratives combined with academic excellence. Several of the scholarships are designated for Indigenous students.
The programs of BC Scholarship Society are supported by grants from the BC Government and are administered by the Victoria Foundation. The society delivers a series of programs including awards for Indigenous students, students studying abroad, adult basic education learners, and students transferring between post-secondary institutions.
