Scholarships and Bursaries
Story appeared in the 2014 issue of QMS Connections Magazine.
BY LEANNE SCHULTZ, OPERATIONS & HR MANAGER
Scholarships and Bursaries are an important part of independent schools; Queen Margaret’s School awards merit scholarships to to students who demonstrate excellence in academics, athletics, the arts or community service.
Generous Investors
“I am honored to share my story to recognize the incredible contributions of generous
“investors” that have impacted my life in ways still unveiling and encourage others to
partake in financially supporting potential students at QMS.”
Three years ago, my parents approached me regarding an anonymous offer of financial support to Queen Margaret’s School. QMS was a name I recognized and had long associated with a life of wealth, connections, and prestige—an education I hardly imagined I was eligible to obtain. Nevertheless, I knew the offer was a chance of a lifetime and the first of many doors to open.
Although the opportunity was a blessing, I must confess that it had not appeared that way from the beginning. My first year at QMS was academically challenging, resulting in many tears, academic help sessions, and sleepless nights. I had earned no form of academic distinction other than a merit award for effort.
I was convinced that the “investors” would realize their mistake and would soon withdraw their support; this was not the case. Admiration for my efforts and excited talk of my eleventh grade at the school quickly drowned out the disappointments of my previous academic results.
The following year, I studied determinedly, and lost significant amounts of sleep. By the end of the year, I had achieved the highest score on the final English exam and an award for academic excellence in English.
I have only a few months left at Queen Margaret’s School and this fall will be attending the Gustavson School of Business at the University of Victoria.
My education would not be possible without the sponsorship I have received, and the unyielding compassion I’ve been shown. Due to the nature of the bursary, the identities of my “investors” remain a mystery to me. I know this letter hardly serves as sufficient gratitude for their generosity, but perhaps my current and future success will serve as a testimony that an act of kindness is not only effective but is also everlasting.