The Kelvern Celtic Society announced the establishment of a STUDENT BURSARY effective September, 2015.
Applications
Applications will be accepted from March 1st to April 15th in the graduating year of the candidate. The successful candidate’s award will be paid directly to the approved, post secondary institution of their choice, by the Central Okanagan Foundation.
All applicants Must:
- Have an affiliation or a family affiliation with the Kelvern Celtic Society.
- Presently be enrolled in a secondary school setting and graduating in the year of application.
- Be an active community volunteer during secondary school years.
- Have an academic average suitable for acceptance into a post graduate institution or technical school.
- The funds are earmarked for candidates who will be attending a public university or college. Under the terms and conditions of the Canada Revenue Agency, the monies which are administered on our behalf by the Central Okanagan Foundation can only be sent to public institutions with charitable status.
To start the process fill in the form here.
2023 Bursary Recipients
Caileigh Watson
Caileigh plays the bagpipes with the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band and has performed in the Okanagan Military Tattoo.
Aidan Watson
Aidan plays the snare drum with the Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band and has performed in the Okanagan Military Tattoo.
Ayla Aspinall
Ayla plays with the Kamloops Pipe Band and is a premier Highland dancer. She has performed in the Okanagan Military Tattoo. Ayla and her family are very involved in the Kamloops Highland games. Ayla is a very dedicated student with a passion for educating young kids she says “My favourite activities are highland dance, playing the bagpipes, assistant teaching and assistant directing theatre”.
Hanah Boeker
Hanah is a premier highland dancer and has performed in the Okanagan Military Tattoo. Hanah also plays violin and piano. She plans to attend the University of Victoria and study Science.
2022 Bursary Recipients
Isabella Anderson
Isabella is a highland dancer from Kamloops and Prince George. She is affiliated with Kelvern through the Kamloops Highland Games Society. Isabella hopes to continue her education studying General Science,
with the goal of pursuing a career in .occupational therapy
Liam Davidson
Liam is a versatile student with a large variety of involvements (including the Shuswap Pipes ‘N Drums). he has a part time job, and is involved in athletics, music, and a number of clubs at school.
Portia Comrie
Portia is a Highland Dancer from Kamloops. She has worked hard and had many accomplishments in dancing, but says the best rewards are the friendships made there. Her goal is to become a Red Seal electrician.
2020 Bursary Recipients
Our candidates were, in a word, outstanding. With all of them having excellent marks and glowing references it was a difficult task to choose any one recipient so we have awarded four bursaries.
~~~~ Kiersten Mikkelsen ~~~~
Kiersten Mikkelsen is from Prince George and is affiliated with Kelvern through the Kamloops Highland Games. She says: “I am taking Highland and Ukrainian Dance classes, but Highland is my true passion. I have been Highland Dancing for over half my life, and I cannot imagine where I would be today without it. I love the wonderful opportunities it has given me, the people I have met through it, and the lessons it has taught me.” Kiersten has also volunteered her time with the Prince George Public Library in many areas.
Hailey Tutt is from Kelowna and is linked with the Okanagan Irish Society. Her grandmother Ethna Tutt has been a big part of Kelvern for many years. Hailey has an early acceptance to the Human Kinetic program at UBCO for next year. Hailey volunteers at the Kelowna General Hospital and has acted as a teaching assistant at school.
~~~~ Lindsay Maier ~~~~
Lindsay Maier from Kelowna is a grade 12 student at Kelowna Secondary School and was a Championship Irish Dancer with the Blakey School of Irish Dance from age 5-15.
One of her references told us that Lindsay competes at the highest level of athletics with a rigorous training and competition season for Track and Field. Lindsay is universally regarded as a wonderful athlete and a mature, kind young woman.
~~~~ Hannah O’Niel ~~~~
Hannah O’Neil attends grade twelve at Sa-Hali Secondary School. In September she plans to attend TRU to start a Bachelor of Arts, with a major in Physical Geography and Environmental Studieswith a goal to work in climate science. Hannah dances with the Shalni Prowse School of Highland Dance. She is also a competitive junior curler at the provincial level, and a member of Scouts Canada.
2018 Bursary Recipients
We are pleased to announce that we presented two bursaries this year. 
Ceilidh Ecton is part of the Blakey School of Irish dance and have enjoyed performing with and for the Okanagan Irish Society on multiple occasions. I am attending UBCO in the fall for the Human Kinetics program and plan to continue dancing as well.
Her dance group performs in Kelowna, and other towns across the valley. Ceilidh says she enjoys displaying our love for Irish dance and share it with others.
Rylan Bokis A grade 12 student attending Revelstoke Secondary School. Rylan is graduating high school this year and will be attending the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus in the Fall of 2018. I have been accepted into the Bachelor of Human Kinetics program with my goal to become an Athletic Therapist.
Rylan is the grandson of Mr. Archie McConnachie, a Piper with the Shuswap Pipes and Drums for over 35 years, as well as the Revelstoke Highlanders where he performed in parades and competitions. Archie is also the founder of the Spring Flings that happen each year where pipe bands from the interior of BC gather for fun and competition.
2017 Bursary Recipient
Mikayla Goodman, Kelowna Pipe Band. The bursary was presented to Mikayla at the Okanagan Military Tattoo by last years bursary recipient Lauren Latham. Mary Thurber, President of Kelvern, and Norm Crearar of the Tattoo assisted. Mikayla plans to study early childhood education.
2016 Bursary Recipient
Lauren Letham – Kamloops Pipe Band Society
Congratulations to Lauren. She has successfully completed her first year at Thompson Rivers University. Lauren is a highland dancer and a piper. She is wearing her Kamloops Pipe Band uniform in the photo.
2015 Kelvern Bursary Recipients
Camryn Peters – Okanagan Irish Society affiliation
Camryn is taking a Bachelor of Science at UBCO.
John Gray – Kamloops Pipe Band affiliation
John is doing a bachelor of science at Thompson Rivers University.
Brittany Crooks – Kelowna Pipe Band affiliation
Brittany is starting a Bachelor of Sciences with Combined Honours in Physics and Astronomy.
Nicholas Stanhope – Kalamalka Highlanders Pipe Band affiliation.
Nicholas is studying Science at the University of Victoria.