The Clinton Orr & Jodi Ruta Community Builder Fund is proud to announce the first recipients of our Community Fund Scholarship! At the end of June, we had the honour of giving away $8,000 to two deserving graduating students whose commitment to volunteering has made a giant difference in our community.
This year’s recipients are Kellya and Judy. Both of these young women embody the values that we wish to honour. They have consistently stepped up whenever their school needed support. Kellya has spent countless hours attending track and field events and volunteering at our curling rink, while Judy has held several leadership roles for youth-run organizations outside of school.
We had the pleasure of personally presenting the scholarships, and through speaking with staff at their school, feel even more confident that these two students are deserving of these scholarships. Their commitment to volunteering and community building is clearly genuine, and we couldn’t be happier to celebrate their accomplishments.
We established our fund last year through a donation of $202,000 to the Brokenhead River Community Foundation. Our scholarship is unique because it is accessible to any student, regardless of privilege, and focuses on volunteerism over academic achievement. Grades are important, but we believe that the true measure of a person lies in how they contribute to their community. The impact a person has on others, whether running a community club, supporting marginalized groups, or coaching youth
sports, is what people will ultimately remember, much more than grades on a report card.
Our scholarship fund is not limited to incoming university students. Applications are open to those who wish to fund community college, training in the trades, our specialized training in individual fields. We believe that future leaders from all industries have the same value. Our society thrives when people from all backgrounds and with all manner of passions are given opportunities to contribute to their communities in meaningful ways.
Once again, congratulations to Kellya and Judy! Thank you for being the extraordinary human beings that you are. We cannot wait to see the mountains you will move in the years ahead. You are the kind of leaders and volunteers who make our communities stronger, and your dedication inspires us all.
The Clinton Orr & Jodi Ruta Community Builder Fund is created to support students who selflessly give back, and to help build a culture where community involvement is celebrated and rewarded.