Testimonials

September 2011

• Thank you for choosing me to receive one of the bursaries for university.  I have been blessed by it greatly and it has helped me in many ways….. I am starting my second semester….taking my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Thanks again, God Bless. 
• ‘My family has experienced some trying times in the past couple of years…your support is greatly appreciated…thank you so much for the bursary’

September 2012

• I would like to extend my greatest appreciation for your hard work and dedication in relation to the creation of the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund.  The University of Toronto has recently applied the
  Agnes Lina Cook Award to my financial account…. It is so wonderful how many people the endowment fund has been able to assist and will continue to assist throughout future years.   This would not be possible without all of your hard work and the support of the donors, so please know that I am sending you all my sincerest thanks,   especially the donors who contributed to the Agnes Lina Cook Award.
• I am really excited about the MSW program at U of T and what it has to offer in terms of professional development.   I will definitely make a point to remember the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund and be sure to give back in the future ….to help suppport post secondary students, like myself. — My sincerest gratitude.

September 2013

• I can’t express thanks enough to your foundation for supporting my daughter with your bursary gift. I wasn’t able to go to college myself and for my daughter to be able to go is my most proud moment as a parent. She has not been the easiest of my seven children to raise but I want you to be reassured that you have not put you gift to bad use. She is a very special girl with a warm, caring heart and very loved by her family and many friends. I know that with this chance she will give it her very best to succeed. She wants to help people in the health field and I know that she will touch everyone that comes in her path with her wonderful spirit and love for others.    Yours Sincerely, ( her mother ) 
• Thank you so much for awarding me a Rotary Club or Gravenhurst Bursary for this coming year. It means a lot .  (Student)
• To: Glen and Phyllis Williams Family and Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund:  Words cannot express! Receipt of the Glen and Phyllis Williams Bursary. I was totally honoured and overwhelmed when I received my acceptance letter. I could feel the level of stress decrease! Thank you again ever so much, as indicated in your letter, I sincerely hope that in the future I will be able to support the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund.    (Student)
• I would like to thank you so much for the bursary and helping me fund my education.  I really appreciate your kindness.  I am having a fantastic time here, learning a lot.  I hope you have a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays.  (Student)

October  2014

•  My thanks to the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst for their help in paying this year’s tuition.    I hope to give back to my community one day too.
• The help you have given me could not have come at a better time.  My tuition is due right after the New Year.  Thanks to the caring people of Town.

October  2015

• I was very happy to learn that I was a recipient of the Agnes Lina Cook Memorial Bursary Award.  I am writing to thank you for your generous support towards my higher education.  By awarding me the Agnes Lina Cook Memorial Bursary, I am able to concentrate on what is important for me, education!  Your financial generosity has allowed me to be one step closer to my goal and has inspired me to help other by giving back to the community.  I hope one day I will be able to help other students achieve their goal just as you have helped me.  Once again thanks.
• Jim and Marlyn Goodwin:  Thank you so much for your generosity in the support of the education of myself and others.   I am currently completing my final year in the Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy program at the University of Western Ontario.  Your Bursary award will be of great assistance in paying for my tuition.  I look forward to entering into the field of health care and being able to help others, similar in the ways in which you both have for many years.   One day I hope to be in the position to pay forward your kindness and help support other students in need.   Thank you again for your generosity,
• Glen and Phyllis Williams:  Thank you so much for making the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Bursary a possibility for me.  The money I received will greatly help me with my program at Fanshawe College and with my goal of becoming a medical radiologist.  Sincerely, –
• My name is —– and I was awarded the Terrance Haight Memorial Bursary Award.   I understand that this letter is late, but I am sincerely hoping that you will still consider me for this bursary, as I greatly appreciate being chosen and am in need of it.  As I mentioned in my application for this bursary, my father was terminally ill with an aggressive form of brain cancer. Throughout the month of September my dad’s illness progressed until he passed away…I am so sorry for missing the deadline, and I hope it does not make you see me as any less than completely appreciative of being awarded this bursary…Thank you…I really appreciate your consideration, sincerely  ____  (Note: Another wonderful young lady who received her bursary )
• Dear Glen and Phyllis Williams Family:   I would like to sincerely thank you for the generosity and support that you have provided to me. (Glen and Phyllis Williams Family Bursary Award) It has allowed me to proceed to fulfill my dream of attending Trent University, in Peterborough Ontario, to study business administration.  I am currently in my third year and am making the most out of my education and the countless opportunities that I am granted.  I focus my studies around economics and finance, as well as analyzing business case studies to apply the knowledge that I am obtaining.  Growing up on Gravenhurst, I have learned that life is what you make of it and there are people in our community, such as yourself, that have the generosity to help those willing to pursue their life ambitions….I have been able to secure a cumulative average of 82% in my schooling…I hope to be able to give back to my community and make a difference in people’s lives, just like you have, when I complete my current set of life goals,   sincerely,  ____
• To the Family of Terrance Haight.  I am enrolled in the Architectural Technologist program at Georgian College.   I am thoroughly enjoying my program and am excited to learn more about my field through my studies at school and the co-op portion of my learning.  …This bursary will help in paying for a large part of my tuition and for that I say thank you!  Yours Truly, ____
• To Audrey and Fred Brown:  I would like to say thank you for participating in the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund.  I realize and appreciate the importance of this program and I hope that I too one day will be able to donate and help families in financial need.  I also appreciate that although you both had your own personal health struggles, you still found a way to help others. Yours Truly, ____
• To Glen and Phyllis Williams: Thank you so much for making the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Bursary a possibility for me. The money I received will greatly help me with my program at Fanshawe College, and with my goal of becoming a medical radiologist. Sincerely, M.P., ____
• Dear Gravenhurst Rotary Club,  I would like to express my thanks and gratitude for your generosity in providing me this award.  you generosity relieves the stress of paying tuition and living in down town Toronto and helps me to focus on my studies.  I am a sculpture and Installation Major currently studying in second year at the Ontario College of Art and Design University.  I have been making plans with Gravenhurst High School Art Teacher Mrs. Buckingham to talk to students about pursuing post secondary and answering some experience about their next big step.  Thanks again for you continuous support, it is greatly appreciated,  Sincerely,  ____
• Dear Williams Family, As the recipient a Glen and Phyllis Williams Family Bursary, I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the tremendous support that you have provided me through this bursary. I am in my fourth and final year at Western University where I am studying Sociology and Psychology. I hope to continue my education next year in the Autism and Behavioral Science Program, with the intention of working with children with Autism and developmental disorders in the future. Thank you again for your generous support. I cannot begin to describe how much it means to me. I hope one day I have the chance to help others, as you have helped me. Sincerely, B.D., ____
• As the award winner of the Mary E. McSheffrey Memorial Award, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks for you generosity in providing this award.  I am happy to have been selected as this year’s recipient for this bursary and it will be of significant help to lighten the burden of paying part of my tuition.  I am currently in my third year of a Bachelor of Science Program at Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo and am facing student loan payments upon completing my program. However, you bursary enables me to keep my debt that much lower and for that, I am grateful.  Not only does this bursary help me to finance my education, but I also feel honoured to be recognized for the hard work I put into my studies.  I am sincerely grateful for the Gravenhurst Rotary Club Bursary as I know first hand ho it helps assist many students to pursue their career goals.    …I will never forget the generosity extended to me! with sincere thanks, Samantha Tomkinson
• Thank you Rotary Club of Gravenhurst for selecting me for the Ross and Betty Franklin award. It has been so helpful and is greatly appreciated. Thank you and Merry Christmas from BS 🙂 , ____
• Mr. Norm Rippon: From the card “Thanks so much for your help. A little kindness makes such a difference in a day. Your thoughtfulness certainly made a difference in mine.” I wanted to thank you for choosing me to be a recipient of the Norman Rippon Bursary Award. I am very grateful for you assistance in paying my tuition. Thanks again, AAJ ____
• On behalf of my son (Jacob van Dyk) and myself, I would like to thank you very much for awarding him the Everett and Florence Doherty Family Bursary. The funds will go a long way in helping Jacob achieve all that he wants to, now and in the future.  Someday in the future we hope to contribute to the Rotary Endowment Fund to help give another student a chance to achieve their goals as you have given Jacob…thank you, Jacque van Dyk

 October 2016

• I am writing you this as I was one of the recipients of the Terrance Haight Memorial Award.  I would first like to thank-you for selecting me to receive this bursary, and I am confident it will help me achieve my goals as a student.  I should also inform you that I am attending the University of Waterloo for the Environment and Business Program.  Enclosed is a thank you note.     The note read as follows: Just a short note to say thank you for selecting me as the recipient of the Terrance Haight Memorial Bursary Award.  I greatly appreciate the financial aid and I am confident it will help me to be successful in my studies.  I am so grateful for organizations such as Rotary’s Bursary Endowment Fund that make it possible for student like myself to pursue a post-secondary education, Overall, thank you! Sincerely, Brianna Bedford.
• Thank you for supporting my academic endeavors by selecting me for the John Vail Family Bursary Award.  I am currently studying at Brock University in St. Catherine’s, Ontaro.    Kylee Ruppert.
• Thank you very much for awarding me the Patricia Patterson Family Bursary Award it will help so much with school expenses.  I am studying at Brock University.  …Adrienne Jackson.
• Dear family of Agnes Lina Cook:  I wanted to take the time to personally thank you for your generous contribution to my education.  The gift of an education is the most valuable present a person can receive and so I am ever thankful for your generosity.  I am currently in my third year at Ryerson University where I am studying business management.  My major is Entrepreneurship and my minor is Human Resource Management. I have learned so many valuable lessons along the way and I am loving my classes more and more each day. We are currently in the process of making our business ideas come to life so it is a very exciting time!    I also wanted to thank you for attaching that beautiful letter about Agnes and all the wonderful life experiences she had.  I would have loved to have met her as she sounds like such a kind and caring women with traits I aspire to gain.  I specifically related to the “a penny saved is a penny earned” phrase she had used often as that is something I like to keep in mind when faced with many decisions.  Thank you again Cook family for allowing me to continue my education and carry on doing the things I love to do everyday.   Sincerely, Kate O’Brien
• Dear Rotarians:  I hope this letter finds you all well.  I have just received your letter of acceptance for the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund and I could not be more excited.  I am humbled by your continued generosity and support.  If not for for the continued support of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst and its alumni I am doubtful I would have been able to focus on my studies to the level I have.  I am not in my third year of my undergraduate studies and have been learning more and more each year.  It is becoming clear to me that I should pursue a Master’s Degree after my undergraduate studies are completed, and possibly a Ph.D after that.  “Dr. Zuern” has a really  nice ring to it!   I have enclosed a letter for Mr. and Mrs. Rathbun to thank them for the bursary ( The Bill and Dora Rathbun Family Bursary )    Yours sincerely, Kevin Zuern
• Thank you so much for supporting me with the John and Terri Vellinga Family Bursary Award.  I am so grateful to have been receiving this from you and I will put it to good use in furthering my education as Theatre artist.  …I am still attending York University in Toronto.  This year I am living in a town house with six other friends of mine.  It is kind of hectic at times but it is mostly positive.  My scooling in Theater continues but more specifically in the stream of Devised Theatre.  Devised Theatre focuses more on working through the processes of creating theatre pieces and working with a group of peole through movement and other means to do so. …Thank you so much once again for generosity.  It means a lot to me and my family who do their best to support me financially.  Sincerely, Nicholas Sluyk.
• Hello my name is Sarah Ratchford and I am contacting you in regards to the Fred and Audrey Brown Family Bursary Award which you have very generously offered me for this academic year.  I am overwhelmingly grateful for your assistance in furthering my post secondary education again this year.  I am attending Trent University for the Queen’s-Trent Concurrent Education Program ( 5 years ).   Again, thank you so much!  Your help is very much appreciated by not only me, but my family as well.  So from all of us, we say a heartfelt thank you to the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund, all of its donors, and to each person who helped to make this possible!   Sincerely, Sarah Rathford –  Future Teacher
• Sarah Ratchford…With Thanks,
• Dear Frankish Family,  I would like to thank you for this great opportunity.  This bursary will be a huge step towards my education.  I am currently attending George Brown College for Early Childhood Education; attending school in Toronto is such a fulfilling and exciting experience.  I am beyond thankful I have this opportunity.  Education is such an important part of life, and it is made possible by the help of your generosity.  This bursary ( Frankish Family Bursary Award ) will go a very long way during my time at George Brown College.   Thank you, Emmy O’Brien
• ‘God has provided through you!’ I just want to thank you so much for choosing me as a recipient for the Rotary Bursary Fund.  Your help was an incredible gift for me this Semester.  Also, thank you for inviting me to the Rotary lunch over my Christmas break.   From Emily McKelvey (student at New Brunswick Bible Institute.)

October 2017

• Dear John and Terri Vellinga, My name is Claudia Spengler and I am a graduate from the Gravenhurst High School.  Through this letter I would like to thank you for your donation towards the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund, which gives students such as myself an opportunity to fund our post secondary educations.  The importance of education does not always receive the appreciation it deserves and I can not express in words how honoured I am to be attending the University of Waterloo this year!  The money donated will be going towards my second semester’s tuition as I study Knowledge Integration.  This is an undergraduate program that takes 4 years to complete, each yar consisting of 2 semesters with a length of 4 months. …..I have already made so many strong connections with those in my cohort and I know throughout the years our relations will only get stronger.  I truly have enjoyed the time that I have spent at Waterloo University so far. … I am looking forward to see what this year and the following years to come have in store for me.   I thank you again for your donation towards making a difference in the lives of students attending post-secondary!  Yours Truly,  Claudia Spengler.
• My name is Meghan Barr and I just wanted to give thanks upon receiving the ‘Tim Forwell’ Bursary.  This bursary will help me greatly in achieving my goals throughout the last year in completing the Pharmacy Technician program at Georgian College.  It is a great honour to be able to say that I am a recipient of the ‘Tim Forwell’ award.  This bursary will help me get that much closer to creating a life for myself so that one day I will be able to give back to the community and help others in achieving their dreams.  I thank you again dearly for this kind act and I really do appreciate you choosing me as a candidate for this award.  All the best, Sincerely…Meghan Barr
• Doug and Ann Tanner, My name is Sam and I am a recipient of the Doug & Ann Tanner and Sons Family Bursary.  I just wanted to let you know how much your generosity helps students like me.  I do not think I would have made it through some years of my schooling without the help of a bursary from families like yours.  I hope when I am older I have the ability to help students like you have.    I have currently finished four years of university at Wilfrid Laurier in Waterloo.  I graduated this past summer with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Physical Geography.  Unfortunately, university does not seem to be enough to get a job anymore, so this year I will be doing a post graduate study at Fleming College in Aquaculture. …After this year of school I hope to get into the department of Fisheries and Oceans so I can help restock lakes that have been over fished. I just wanted to thank you again for everything you do and how much this will help me in the long run.   Sam Tomkinson
• Thank you so much for choosing me for the Fred and Audrey Brown Family Bursary Award.  I really appreciate your help towards paying my tuition. This award allows me to further my education in something I am really passionate about.  I hope to someday have a career in medicine and have the job I want thanks to you.  I hope someday I find myself i the financial position to support the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund and provide funding to people like me.  Thank you for all your help.  Ashley Pless.
• Dear Norman Rippon Family,  I am truly thankful for your generous donation towards my schooling through the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund.  It is because of people like you, that kids like me are able to attend the school of their dreams and enjoy their time there at the same time.  Without financial help from you, I may not have been able to commit to attending the University of British Columbia.  I fly out to my new home on Saturday and could not be more excited, especially knowing that there are great people, such as yourself, willing to assist students achieve their goals.  I will be attending UBC for at least the next 4 years with a possible 5th year in order to get either a) bachelor in engineering management, or if b) my masters of applied science and bachelor of applied science at the same time. I will be sure to keep in touch with you as I complete my schooling and I look forward to meeting you at some point.  Thank you again,  Ryan Godfrey   UBCO student.  ( recipient of the Norman Rippon Family Bursary Award )
• Tim and Kim Forwell.  I would like to thank you for your contributions to the Rotary Club and for the donation which created the Tim Forwell Bursary.  I am very appreciative to have been chosen for this bursary as it has been a huge contribution towards paying my tuition and allowing me to spend my savings more towards books and continuing to save to pay off my next semester.  There will never be enough words to express how thankful I am for your help and will definitely continue to keep in contact with you by email to let you know how successful I end up to be in my engineering program.  I will make sure to apply for this bursary again next year and continue for years after.  Thank you Tim and your daughter Kim so much for thinking of our small town of Gravenhurst when deciding where you would like to donate your money.  I know that all recipients this year benefit greatly and so will students for year to come.   Sincerely, McKenna Manser,  University of Guelph- Biomedical Engineering
• Dear Hoekstra Family.  My name is Sadie Cleary and I am writing to express my sincere gratitude to you for making the Enno and Marina Hoekstra Family Bursary possible.  I was thrilled to learn of my selection for this honor and I am deeply appreciative of your support.  I am currently in my first year of the Nursing Program at Laurentian University, and plan to graduate in 2021.  After graduation, I hope to continue to attend Laurentian University pursuing Medicine or continuing in Nursing to become a Nurse Practitioner.  Eventually, I hope to return to Muskoka and work in the community.  Both programs I am considering have very difficult admission requirements, the financial assistance you provided will be of great help to me in paying my educational expenses, allowing me to focus more on the most important aspect of school, learning.  Thank you again for your generosity and support.  I promise you I will work very hard and eventually give something back to others, both as a health care professional and possibly a scholarship to future students like myself.   Sincerely,   Sadie Cleary
• To: The family of Terrance Haight.  (Terrance Haight Memorial Bursary Award )   I’d like to take a minute to thank your family for your support in my education.  It means so much that your kindness has found its way to me.   About a month ago, I moved to Vancouver, BC to start a new adventure.  I am a Master of Architecture candidate at the University of British Columbia.  Although it had been a far and difficult move, I’m beginning to settle in to my new life here and into the city itself.  I’ve met some really great friends and am starting to explore this amazing city.  As for the program itself:  it is a three-and-a-half year program studying architectural design and I’ve just begun the first year of the program.  ….I am truly enjoying my program and all it has to offer, which is made possible in part by your generous contribution.  So again, thank you for your support.  Kindest Regards,  Monica Norman
• Dear Mr. Forwell,  I would like to take this opportunity to thank you again for the very generous bursary you gave me last year.  I attended the Aircraft Maintenance Technician program at Canadore College which I enjoyed very much.  I will be returning to Canadore College in September to continue my studies in this program.  Your bursary, along with the one I received from the Rotary Club, was very much appreciated by both me and my family.  It has assisted my sister and me to continue our education and has greatly eased the financial burden on my mother who is supporting both of us in post-secondary education following the death of my father from cancer.  In addition to the tuition costs, the bursaries I received from you and the Rotary Club helped to pay my residence fees and living expenses.  This year, I will be living off campus in a house I have rented with three other people.  On behalf of my family and me, thank you for your generosity.   Sincerely, Lucas Kobe.

October 2018

• Dear Mr Forwell:  I am spending the summer working full time for the Town of Gravenhurst in the landscaping and events department which I am enjoying very much.  My school program is two years long and I was required to take 16 courses in my first year.  My grades were above 70% in 12 of the courses…some above 80%…the course was interrupted by a 5 week strike. (affecting student studies )  I intend to get a tutor and work hard to get above 70% in each course.  Becoming an aircraft mechanic is very important to me.  I had two co-op placements with the Ministry of Natural Resources hangar at the Muskoka airport in High school which I enjoyed very much and was highly regarded by my supervisors.  I would very much like a career in this industry. Sincerely,  Lucas Kobe
  
• To Rotary Club of Gravenhurst:  Thank you Patricia Patterson for supporting my academic endeavours.  I am attending the Ontario College of Art and Design -OCAD- in Toronto.   (Andrew attended the luncheon at the Rotary Club in September and made a presentation expressing his appreciation of the support he has received from the bursaries.  He also described the new sandal design he created, explaining why it was unique.   He was wearing a pair of the sandals designed last year at school.)  Sincerely, Andrew Atkin.
• I am eternally grateful for all the years of support that I have received from you, and even more so as I will be completing my last year at York University.  There are times where I feel disconnected from home in Gravenhurst and it is acts like these that remind me that I am still a part of the community back home.   My final year so far has been nothing but busy!  I am still living in the same large house with most of the same people.  Some have come and gone but the group that we have now is really great and it’s a lot of fun having such a supportive group of people around so often.  I also got a job at the pub on campus after a summer of having a lot of trouble finding work.  In terms of my work in theatre, things have also been super busy.  As a part of my program this fourth year in Devised Theater, means that we as a class have to put on and run our own theatre festival.   We…put on a show at the end of the Winter term.  …Every year one of the groups gets to travel to Edinburgh Fringe Festival during the summer which is the biggest theatre fringe festival in the world so, fingers crossed that we get to be a part of that amazing opportunity.  Once again, thank you for choosing me as a recipient of the Agnes Lina Cook Bursary.  I like to see myself as someone who is a diverse character and takes calculated risks like Agnes in my theatre work, and I’ll be sure to think about her and the rest of the Rotary club of Gravenhurst as I finish my Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance Creation.    Sincerely,  Nickolas Sluyk
• My name is Taylor Hume and I have been fortunate enough to be the recipient of the John and Sandra Young Family Bursary Award.  I very greatly appreciate being chosen to win this award.  I am currently attending the University of Ottawa in the Honours Bachelor of Health Sciences program.  My program is an integrative way of studying health.  By using biosciences and research methodologies to determine the social and environmental determinants of health I learn and discover innovative ways to understand, determine and measure complex health problems all around the world….Thank you so much for awarding me with this bursary.   Sincerely, Taylor Hume
• Dear Members of Rotary!Thanks again for all your support with my post secondary education! Because of the of my community, I have not only been able to attend Trent University for a Business Administration and Psychology Duel Degree but I’ve been able to get involved with clubs, professional groups and student senate. I have landed the role of Bobby in the musical Cabaret which will be at Market Hall in Peterborough starting March 15th. I made the Trent improv team “Scared Script-Less” and am a choral scholar at the All Saints Anglican Church. I am also Co President of Gzowski College and have put on such events as pumpkin carving, cookie decoration, movie nights, bob ross paint nights and we raised over 300 food items for a local food drive this Christmas! I’m so happy to have found a home at Trent and can’t wait for all the fun in the new year. Also doing amazing in all my classes, but who cares about that part of school!Merry Christmas all and thanks again!    Elias Trivett
• Dear Jenny Han,    Thank you so very much for your financial support during my first year at Trent University.  Because of the support from you and the rest of the community this school year, I have been able to take the first steps towards getting my double major business and psychology degree.  I am working hard and maintaining an 84 average and volunteering in extra credit studies on the side.  I am also involved with the community council in my residence building as Co-President..  Outside of Trent academics, I have joined the Trent improve team called Scared Scriptless, and I have also joined the cast of the ASTC musical this year, Cabaret.  I will be playing the role of Bobby.  I was given a Choral Scholar position at All Saints’ Anglican Church and sing with them every Thursday night and Sunday morning.  All coral scholars are going to be singing ‘O Canada’ at a hockey game soon as part of the community involvement.  The choir also has a yearly Pub Chorale Fundraiser with wonderful food and entertainment and this year I will be playing the rode of Elvis.  Needless to say, because of support from people like you I am getting well educated, am encouraged to work hard, and am having the time of my life!        Thank you so very much.  Your support means everything!                                                            Yours Truly, Elias Trivett
• To Norm Rippon and Family:   Thank you so much for the bursary I received through the Gravenhurst Rotary.  I am thoroughly enjoying my time at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology.  During my time there I am the commercial Director of a Formula A=SAE team which is a group of approximately 80 students working together to design and build an electric racecar that will be brought to competition in Barrie, Ontario and Lincoln New Brunswick….Thank you again,   Nicole Brandt.
• Rotary Club:    Thank you very much for awarding me the Jim and Marlyn Goodwin Family Bursary Award, it will help so much with school expenses.  I am studying at Brock University  Thank you again, Adrienne Jackson

January 2019

• Good afternoon, Mr. Forwell,This week, I received a note from Ken Little, Chairman of the Gravenhurst Rotary Bursary Fund, advising me that I had been selected to receive your generous and thoughtful gift!  I would like to express my appreciation and let you know what an honour it is to be selected.  I have just returned to Ottawa after spending a whirlwind couple of weeks in Gravenhurst for the Holidays.  While home, I had the chance to spend some great, quality time with my family – particularly my brother, Adam, who is 13, who seems to become less like a pesky little brother and more like a buddy each day.  Many of my friends also returned home for the Break and I enjoyed having the chance to see them and hear about their own respective post secondary adventures.My first semester of classes offered me some great opportunities, like being able to meet and get to know a great roommate who has not only become my best friend but is also taking the same Bach. of Communications as myself. We have had the opportunity to share some of our classes, which proved to be helpful when it came time for studying as we were able to test and bounce ideas off of one another.  This came in particularly handy as we prepared for my Sociology class, which was a tough one to say the least and inevitably ended in a failing mark. We learn and we live.I am really looking forward to this second term in Ottawa and hope that the classes I have selected continue to challenge me and inspire me to reach higher and higher for each success.  I have selected some classes which, I hope, will allow me to be able to express myself through spoken word and some others, which I hope will expand my understanding of this Communication medium as a whole. During first semester all of my classes were geared towards my interests with respect to my field. For example; I took a course called Media Studies which was based around the mass medias. This course was great for me as my goal is to work with social media and public relations in the future. Although I have classes that are mandatory, the University of Ottawa has given me to take optional courses such as Witchcraft and Occult Traditions, which is a religion course based about the witch trials and practices, and a course called Drugs 101, which bases its curriculum around the use of pharmaceutical drugs.  Again, Mr. Forwell, I would like to thank you for your gift and for your support of my endeavours. University was always something that seemed out of my reach, but with your gracious help i was able to accomplish it. I hope to one day be able meet you and thank you in person.Sincerely, Sean Despins
• Dear Mary,Thank you so much for this fantastic news. I checked my emails after a wonderful Christmas break and was totally blown away. I am more than happy to write Jenny Han a thank you and will mail it this week.
  I would also like to send my sincere thank you for selecting me as the recipient of the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Bursary Award. I appreciate this very much. To show my appreciation, I plan to film a short video expressing my thanks and incorporating pictures from my campus and everyday life while studying at Brock University.  Within the next one to two weeks, you can expect my email with a large file attachment.  I would like the Rotarians to put a face to the name they have so generously helped. I hope to show and introduce you to a typical day in my life at Brock.
  Again, I would like to thank you for delivering the news of the Jenny Han donation and thank the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst for supporting my academic endeavors. Your support and generosity is greatly appreciated. Best wishes and Happy New Year to all.
  Sincerely,   Kylee Ruppert

•  To Glen and Phyllis Williams Family:  I am immensely grateful and deeply honoured to be the recipient of this award.  Reading about Glen and Phyliss not only inspired me but gave me hope to keep striving to be good. Please extend my gratitude to Phyliss.  It certainly takes a load of stress off as I head in to my third year. (at the University of Guelph – Humber campus).   Wishing you all the best, sincerely, Danielle Sluyk
• Dear Gravenhurst Rotary Club,     I would like to thank you one again for your generosity.  Your donation has given me the ability and security to devote all my attention to my education.  I am now in my final semester studying Sculpture and Installation at OCAD University and I would like to invite you to my graduating thesis exhibitions.  The first exhibition is on the 2nd of March at the Lonsdale Gallery in Forest Hill, Toronto.  It will be up until the 9th and the gallery hours are 11 am to 5 pm.  The second exhibition is on the first of May at ODAD University.  It runs for 5 days transforming the school into a gallery of graduating student work.      I would als like to let you know that I was awarded a project grant by my Student Union to run volunteer workshops teaching other students how to make their own fermented foods such as Kim chi and Sauerkraut.      You have all been a tremendous help through my undergraduate years and I attribute my success to the helping hand you and other have given me. Sincerely,   Andrew Atkin
• To Gravenhurst Rotary Club:
• Thank you for your continued support throughout my academic career. It was very much appreciated.  Lianne Brandt
• To Rotary Club of Gravenhurst:                                                                               Thank you for all the support you have given over the years.  Thank you again for putting my name forward for the Ann and Doug Tanner Family Bursary Award.  This is a true honour to be receiving this bursary.  Thank you again for your generous gift,  Sincerely,   Nicole Brandt
• Rotary Club of Gravenhurst:   Thank you very much for choosing me as a bursary recipient for 2019!  I am very grateful to have you ongoing suppot through my academic endeavours.  (She was studying at the University of Guelph)   Thank you so much!  Sincerely, McKenna Manser
• To Whom it May Concern:  Thank you to all involved for this bursary.  It means so much.  Please release my name to the Frankish Family.  Thank you again to all involved for your kind consideration.  Sincerely Logan Woodrow
• Gravenhurst Rotary Club Bursary AwardI would like to thank you for your consideration in granting me the Gravenhurst Rotary Club Bursary Award. I am very grateful for your contribution to aid in schooling. I am perusing a career as a General Practitioner, a choice that will take many years of school and a lot of dedication; I know this career choice will bring personal satisfaction as well as a service to my community. I am confident that I will be able to reach my goal, a goal that is made more possible with your assistance. I am looking forward to being able to contribute to my community as I progress through school and in my professional career. I have recently been in contact with a nursing home near my school to start as a volunteer and become a more active member of my community. I also plan to contribute to volunteer programs run through Lakehead University, such as the Science Olympics and Let’s Talk Science activities that encourage scientific practice in elementary and secondary schools.  Thank you again.-Rachel Tilson
• Rotary Club of Gravenhurst:   I would like to personally thank you for your support in my academic pursuit.  This award means that I will be able to continue my studies.  Gillian Noonan
• To Whom it May Concern:  Thank you for your generous contribution to my future.  I am attending Fanshawe College in London Ontario, for ‘Child and Youth Care’.  Thank You,  Hailey Speicher.
• Rotary Club of Gravenhurst,   Thank you so much for choosing my application for the Glen and Phyllis Williams Family Bursary Award. This bursary will help me immensely this year to focus on my studies with my highest potential.    I am attending Ryerson University ( in Business Management ). Thank you so much for this bursary, I hope that in 10-20 years time frame I will be able to give back to the fund in the same way I have received.  Yours Sincerely,   Olivia Kella

•  September 2020

• Dear Williams Family, Thank you very much for the honour of being selected as the recipient of the Glen and Phyllis Williams Bursary Award.  I am honoured.  I am enrolled at Fanshawe College and my course is a full academic year from September to May.  I have included a thank you card for the Williams Family,  I would appreciate it the card is forwarded to them.  I really appreciated it and will work hard to be the best I can be.  Lily Kersnick
• Dear Rotary Club Members;  Thank you so much for all you do for our Community.  I am so pleased to have included as a Rotary Club of Gravenhurst Bursary Recipient! This will truly help me as I continue my engineering path. Logan Woodrow.
• Dear Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.  Hi My name is Elda-lisa Valenzuela and I received the tuition for $3,700 from the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.  I am so thankful and appreciative that you thought I was worthy of this money, and I promise I will make sure it aids me in by future success at Georgian College.  This money will support me so greatly in the future, and I hope to see it to futher open opportunities in the future.  thank you greatly, Elda-lisa Valenzuala
• Dear Jim and Marlyn Goodwin.  10/15/20   My name is Kaitlyn Scholfield and I am honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Goodwin Family Bursary.  I would like to thank you for your generosity.  Thanks to your donation, I am able to continue my education at the University of Guelph.  I am currently in my second year of a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Family Studies and Human Development with a minor in Psychology.  My dedication and passion for the FSHD program has allowed be to achieve a grade point average of 81.2 percent.  In addition, I was involved in an open-level ringette team, however, due to Covid-19, it has been temporarily cancelled.  My scheduled graduation in June of 2023, I plan to pursue a career as a youth and family therapist.   I was born and raised in Gravenhurst, Ontario, attended both Gravenhurst Public and High School.  I have been involved in extracurriculars, such as dance, basketball, volleyball, hockey, soccer and ringette throughout grades 7-12.  I have also received various academic awards, including junior and senior proficiency awards, principal’s honour roll, and an entrance scholarship to the University of Guelph.  Thank you again for helping me reach my fullest personal and professional potential.   Sincerely, Kaitlyn Schofield.
• Agnes Lina Cook Bursary Memorial Fund:  I greatly enjoyed reading teh information on Agnes Lina Cook that was included in my letter sent to me through the Rotary Club.  Personalized touches and life experiences can be very enriching.  I enjoyed the part on following life passions and taking calculated risks, your mother sounded like she was an extraordinary woman.  In the midst of reading about Agnes I found myself pondering my life decisions, I began writing this to you, explaining a little about my life since I now know so much about the memory of the women who will have forever helped shape my future.  My name is Deserae Lyons, I was born in Orillia on March 20 1999.  I was raised in Gravenhurst my whole life, my parents are Jen and Chris, I come from a family of 5and am the oldest of two younger male siblings.  I attended Beechgrove Public School from junior kindergarten to grade 8.  Once graduated, I attended secondary schooling at Gravenhurst High School. It was at High School where I adopted my passion in visual arts, I found myself spending all my free time in the art room.  I enrolled myself every year in art classes, sculpture classes, and even peer tutoring.  My art teacher Sue Buckingham encouraged my passion every step of the way and suggested I study Fine Arts at Fanshawe College.  Fanshawe allowed be to explore all aspects of the art world, I even wound up in five art shows hosted throughout London, Ontario on behalf of Fanshawe.  These art shows gave me the opportunity to explore the side of curation, and museum institutions take an instant interest.  After 3 years at Fanshawe I graduated with an Advanced Diploma in Fine Arts, yet I found myself pondering my future in arts yet again and how I can continue to develop it.  With your assistance in Funding I am beyond grateful to continue my post-secondary education at Ontario Academy of Art and Design in Toronto, Ontario.  It is now at ta University level; I am studying to receive my BFA in Curatorial and Criticism studies.  Once again through your kind support in your mother’s name I am now able to take thee calculated risks towards my future and I will forever be thankful.  Generosity can be scarce, but it is refreshing to know that there are giving people such as yourself able to shape the younger generations like myself.  Deserae Lyons.
• To those from the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund.   I want to personally thank you for all of your generosity. Your help has make a tremendous difference in my life, and I am determined to do the best that I can with what I have been given.  Thank you all so much,  Matthew Lecroix
• Dear William and Peggy Frankish, 10/17/20     My name is Kirsten Schofield and I am honoured to be this year’s recipient of the Frankish Family Bursary.  I would like to thank you for your generosity.  Thanks to your donation, I am able to continue my education at the University of Guelph.  I am currently in my fourth year of a Bachelor of Science degree with a minor in Family and Child Studies.  My dedication and passion for the BioSci program has allowed be to achieve a grade point average of 79.6 percent.  In addition, I was involved in the University of Guelph, “AA” Ringette Team as a goalie, however, due to Covid-19, it has been temporarily cancelled.  My scheduled graduation in June of 2021, I plan to pursue a career as a high school science teacher.     I was born and raised in Gravenhurst, Ontario, attended both Gravenhurst Public and High School.  I have been involved in extracurriculars, such as dance, basketball, volleyball, hockey, soccer and ringette throughout grades 7-12.  I have also received various academic awards, including junior and senior proficiency awards, principal’s honour roll, and an entrance scholarship to the University of Guelph.  Thank you again for helping me reach my fullest personal and professional potential.   Sincerely, Kaitlyn Schofield.
• To the Family of Fred and Audrey Brown,   I would like to send a sincere ‘Thank You’ for being a Donor through the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst and supporting me throughout my studies.  This gift has relieved so much stress.  Your families story is incredible and I hope when I complet my Doctorate Degree I can support students in the community the same way hou have.   Thank you for being there, especially during times of Covid 19.  I hope you like this card, it is a painting I make of a Muskoka Sunset.  Wishing you all the best.  (image of a heart)  I also included a Bluejay Print.   Sincerely Melissa
• To the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.    Thank you so much for this bursary, it means so much to me and I’m forever grateful, this money will help tremendously with my schooling and my future.  I will spend it wisely to better myself and my education.  I wish you all the best, thank you again.  Hailie Vance ( recipient of the Doug and Ann Tanner & Sons Family Bursary Award )
• To The Doherty Family:  My name is Madelynne Rowland and I was born and raised here in Gravenhurst, attending both Gravenhurst Public School and Gravenhurst High School.  I am actively involved in hockey, softball, and dance both as a dance assistant and a competitive dancer representing Just 4 Kicks studio.  I have worked hard around my recreational activities to save money for post-secondary and achieved a level of academics that has allowed me to be selected as a successful candidate for a highly competitive program – paramedic studies at Cambrian College in Sudbury.  Both myself and my older brother are currently enrolled and attending post-secondary studies, which is a large financial endeavour.  Thanks to the generosity of Ev and Flo Doherty and their bursary, my tuition costs will not be as great.  This bursary is a huge help to both me and my family.  Thank you so much for helping and for continuing to support future Gravenhurst graduates.  I am excited to start this new chapter of becoming a Paramedic.  Sincerely, Maddy Rowland.
• Dear Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.  (re: donation from the Club)  As a Post Secondary student I deeply appreciate the financial support that I have received from your donation to this Fund.  This donation will allow me to embark on my first year of College with excitement and gratitude.   Thanks, Nicholas.
• Dear Mr. Little and Mr. Augustine,  I would like to thank you and the Rotary Club for this bursary, and everything you do for our community.  Your generosity allows me to focus solely on my Studies and not have to worry about the Financial aspect of School.  My family and I appreciate this greatly.   Thanks, again, William Watts. ( recipient of the Dorothy Liddle  Memorial Award )
• Dear Rotary Club of Gravenhurst,   Thank you for selecting me as a recipient of the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund.  Sincerely,  Trinity Ann Kiss.  (recipient of a Glen and Phyllis Williams Family Bursary Award)

• September 2021

• Dear Rotary Club of Gravenhurst.  Hello, and thank you so very much for choosing me as the recipient of the Glen and Phyllis Williams Family Bursary, it truly means a lot to me and to may education.  I will be attending Trent University….Thank you so much again, I look forward to being able to repay you in the future.  In kindness, Kendra Doolittle.
• Dear Rotary Club of Gravenhurst   Thank you for accepting my bursary application.  This will be a great help in financing my education.  I will be attending Fanshawe College.  Nicholas Malone
• To the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst…’Knowing people nice as you gives life a brighter touch, And so, to each and all of you–thanks very, very much’.  I am honoured to be a recipient of the Rotary Bursary Endowment Fund!  I thank you so much for your generosity, as this will help me continue my studies at Humber College for Fashion Arts and Business.  It will go towards tuition, textbooks and accommodation purposes.  I couldn’t have done this without each and every one of you!!  All the best,  Danielle Sluyk.  (Recipient of the Mary E. McSheffery Bursary and the Tim Forwell Family Bursary)
• Hello Mr. Rippon.  My name is McKenna Manser and I have recently been notified by the Rotary Club of Gravenhurst that you have chosen me as one of the students to support this year.  I would like to thank you very much for this generous donation as well as thank you for supporting me in continuing my education, words cannot express how grateful I am for this opportunity.  I am taking Biomedical Engineering at the University of Guelph and have just started the first semester of my fourth year.  My courses have started to really focus on the Biomedical aspect, and I am very excited to be taking more courses that genuinely interest me.  I am enrolled in the coop stream of my course and have completed 12 months of experience within my field.  I have another 8-month work term next summer and I am excited to further explore my career options, gain more experience in the workplace.  I cannot thank you enough for your generous donation and I would love to keep you updated on my success.  Thank you so much,  McKenna Manser.
• Dear Rotary:  Thank you for considering and choosing me for this award (John Vale Family Bursary).  It means so much to me and gives me a sense of optimism going in to this chapter of schooling.  (attending the University of Guelph-Humber in Toronto – studying Bachelor of Applied Science Family and Community Social Services) )  Katrina Trott.