Kelowna student awarded $70,000 scholarship

A Kelowna high school student is one of 20 across the country to be awarded a $70,000 scholarship.

The Kelowna Secondary School student helped lead an Indigenous teaching program that caught the attention of the provincial government, then it helped land her the massive TD Bank scholarship, according to a TD Bank news release issued today, June 8.

Dilynn Scott took what she learned at an Indigenous education summit and, with three schoolmates, launched an Indigenous Leadership Teaching Assistants program at the Kelowna school.

They helped teachers incorporate Indigenous perspectives in their curriculum by teaching cultural beading, traditional games and Indigenous knowledge of local plants and their uses.

“Dilynn’s story is one of a young Indigenous leader who isn’t waiting for change, she is teaching it instead,” the release reads.

After its introduction at Kelowna Secondary School, it may see implementation across the province after it was noticed by the superintendent of the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

The TD Scholarship for Community Leadership has been running since 1995. Scott was one of two BC students to be awarded the scholarship this year, which will pay for her post-secondary tuition and living expenses.