Dorothy & Ron Bonnett Memorial Scholarship - $1000
Criteria - Medical/Teaching
Ron Bonnett was born in 1918 in Victoria BC, raised in Rock Creek until the family moved to Oliver in 1929,
establishing the family orchard.
Ron was a WWII veteran, having served overseas with the RCAF. After his service, he returned home and ran the family farm. Ron spent a lifetime serving his community; years on the Board of the BC Fruit Growers Association and as Chairman of the Rural Fire Protection District. He was also an active member of the Jaycees, Kinsmen, Kiwanis and Royal Canadian Legion.
Dorothy Bonnett (Wilcox) was born in Kamloops BC in 1925. Dorothy completed her
registered nursing program at St. Anne’s Academy in Victoria. She accepted a position
at St Martins Hospital in 1946 and moved to Oliver. Dorothy went on to become the
Director of Nursing, Assistant Administrator and Administrator of the South Okanagan
General Hospital.
Ron and Dorothy were married in 1948 and raised a family of six children.
The Bonnett family has always had close ties to SOSS (previously SOHS. Ron was
from the war. His youngest sibling, Audrey, was a member of the first graduating
class of SOHS. The following generation of the family have all graduated from SOSS.
Education was always highly valued in the household, resulting in all six of the children
earning post-secondary school degrees.
In 1964, the first meeting of the Okanagan Regional College Committee took place in the
Frank Venables Auditorium. A campaign to establish a regional college in the
Okanagan began.
The Bonnett family, “Ron and the six children” became the poster family for part of this campaign. Ron with his picking bag standing in front of bins of apples and a ladder with six children hanging off of it. The caption stating “I cannot afford to send my children to Vancouver to get a university education”.
Okanagan University College was not constructed in time! All six children obtained their degrees at Universities on the coast:
Joan – a nursing diploma at BCIT/BSN
degree at UVIC
Bev - an Education Librarian degree
at UBC
Robin - a BSc and Teaching degree
at UBC
Kevin - a forestry degree at UBC
Clifford - an economics/accounting
degree at BCIT
Glenn - a history degree at UVIC
SOSS has served our family and community extremely well. The level of education it has provided has prepared students well for their future endeavours. The school, the district, and the community have continually been committed to assisting students financially through scholarships and bursaries. Each and every member of our family that has graduated from SOSS has received funds from SOSS and/or the Enrichment Fund Society. The cost of a post-secondary degree today is staggering and any assistance is appreciated.
Brad Burnett Bump Bursary - $500
In 2019 Brad Burnett (SOSS Alumni 1999) was in contact with John Echlin indicating that he would
like to provide an annual scholarship to an SOSS graduating student with the first award presented
June 2019.
Criteria:
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Views themselves as a global citizen
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Able to connect with, and bring together, different cliques
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Free thinker, yet, principled
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Driven to create positive change
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Concerned with global issues and its impact locally
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Believes that local movements can be exported globally independent, yet sociable
Pursing any post-secondary education in Canada: Science, Art, Business, Fine Arts, Trades
The Burnett Bump Bursary is to be awarded to the South Okanagan Secondary Student who best exemplifies the above
Dumais Family Scholarship - $1000
Criteria - student pursuing post-secondary education in either a trades/technology program or who has interest in becoming a teacher.
Ernie and Cheryl Dumais lived in Oliver from 1967 to 2022, relocating to the Comox Valley on Vancouver Island for their golden years. Moving to the South Okanagan from the Lower Mainland as young, aspiring teachers was an incredible adventure for Ernie and Cheryl, an adventure that last 55 years and that was filled with outstanding experiences and friendships.
Ernie taught shop classes for his full career retiring in 1998. Daughter, Shelley, graduated from SOSS in 1987 and Marcie in 1990.
The Dumais family is pleased they can provide this award to graduating SOSS students as a legacy of support as a way to say thank you to the Oliver community, a place very close to their hearts.
Minnie Egerton Scholarship -$1000
Criteria - Teaching
Minnie Egerton was the first white child born in Hedley, BC to early pioneers of the Hedley gold rush era. Her parents were owners of the once famous Grand Union Hotel. Minnie's determination to go to normal school for teaching was almost legendary.
She had a ruby ring that belonged to her mother and she walked to Princeton and Keremeos selling raffle tickets on it to fund her way to school. She was sixteen when she went to Normal School in Victoria and was teaching eight grades in one-room schools while still in her teens. Minnie Egerton was a long time teacher in Oliver, teaching at Testalinda School and Oliver Elementary School. Minnie died at the age of 101.
Robert and Isla Fleming Memorial Scholarship - $1000
Bob Fleming was born in Nelson BC, and after teaching in Blewett near Nelson and Hume School in Nelson moved to Oliver in 1947. He became one of the original teachers at the Southern Okanagan High School (the Taj Mahal) in 1948 teaching Physics and Math, becoming the head of the Math Department. After many years of service, Bob retired in 1986.
Isla McCallum (pronounced Eye-La) was born in Penticton, and came to Oliver in 1949 to teach music at the Oliver Elementary School. That year, Bob and Isla met in a car pool heading up to Penticton for the Okanagan Valley Teachers’ Convention. They were married in 1951 and a year later Isla gave birth to her first child. Isla paused her teaching career at that point to raise her family, and returned to teaching in 1970 after the oldest child left home. She became a Special Education Teacher in Oliver, where she remained until her unexpected passing at the end of 1974.
Bob and Isla were both active in the community. Bob with the annual Drama Festival, Scouts Canada, Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis, Senior Citizens Activity Centre and the Naturalist Society to name a few. In addition to leading the Elementary School choir, Isla was an active member of the Oliver United Church Senior Choir and led the Church Junior Choir.
It is the Family’s wish that their service to the community carry on through the Robert and Isla Fleming Memorial Scholarship.
Francis Family Scholarships - 2 x $2500
Criteria – Student Portfolio
"Southern Okanagan Secondary gave me a great all round education that was an excellent foundation for my post-secondary education and business career. I hope that this donation will help others to further their educational goals and achieve personal success."
The Francis Family Scholarship was donated by Mr. Norman Francis in memory of his parents, Blaine and Alice Francis of Oliver. Blaine arrived in Oliver in the early 30’s and Alice to Oliver during the 1940’s to teach school. Both were active community members and volunteers. Norm Francis was born and raised in Oliver and graduated from S.O.S.S. He attended U.B.C. and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Sciences, and subsequently earned a Chartered Accountant Designation. He co-founded several technology companies.
The following characteristics must be demonstrated by applicants:
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display a combination of commitment to improving their education (but who do not necessarily have the highest academic standing), are:
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well-rounded individuals who participate in a variety of activities,
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are good community and school citizens,
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work hard, and have a need for funding
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to help them continue with their post-secondary education.
Patricia Jean Gallie (nee Blidook) Memorial Scholarships - $13,000
Jean Gallie - SOSS Alumni - Class of 1961
The SOSS Enrichment Fund Society was very fortunate to have been named a beneficiary of Ms Gallie’s estate.
Jean felt all students should be given the opportunity to experience post secondary education, whether in the fields of academic, arts or trades, though her preference was to be able to provide this opportunity to students furthering their education/career in the trades fields.
With Jean's wishes in mind, the Society established scholarships in her memory. These scholarships are to be awarded to students furthering their education in the trades and to students that have demonstrated academic success in their high school years.
In June 2022, the Society provided $8000 in annual scholarships. In June 2023, the Society provided $13,000 in annual scholarships.
Mike Garrish Memorial Scholarship - $1000.00
Michael Garrish was born and raised in Oliver and a was a member of the S.O.S.S. graduating
class of 1970. Mike was a loving husband and father and grandfather. He doted on his wife, (Beth), children (Raelene and Naomi) and grandchildren (Aynlsey and Kendra) and would do anything for them.
There were winter, spring, summer and fall picnics and lots of camping with all the family.
Mike loved to travel and went on many an exotic trip including China, France, Spain, Greece,
Portugal and the Caribbean. The last big family vacation with grandkids was a trip down the Oregon coast. But Mike’s favourite adventure was the trip to Australia where he and Beth travelled for
many months in their Toyota camper van.
He had several jobs and businesses in the construction trades prior to starting his apprenticeship
in Refrigeration. He completed his apprenticeship with Jones Food Store Equipment and went on
to work for them for approximately 25 years installing and servicing food store equipment across British Columbia. He also owned and operated ConAire Refrigeration in Oliver for many years.
Bill & Pat Graham Memorial Scholarship - $500
Criteria - The donations specifies that the Society must provide two scholarships a year from the interest off the capital, one with priority given to an agricultural student and a second to a fine arts (music first) student.
If no student(s) meet this criteria than the recipients will be left to the discretion of the School’s Scholarship committee.
Bill Graham was born in Fairview in 1907 and received his schooling in Fairview. Bill and Pat were well know cattle ranchers through then entire south and north Okanagan. Bill was a life member of the Southern Interior Cattlemen's Association.
Lawrence W. V. Green Memorial Scholarship - $500
Criteria: Trades or business, leadership, citizenship, community involvement
Lawrence left his corporate life in the lower mainland behind to retire in Oliver. His passion for people, strong work ethic and sense of community lead him to countless volunteer hours with the Deer Park Strata, The Festival of the Grape and making and serving muffins for the SOSS Breakfast Program, where he was affectionately known as the “muffin man”. He was also thrilled to mentor drivers at Area 27 Motorsport Park sharing his 50+ years of amateur racing experience. With his witty humour and easy going personality, Lawrence had many friends in Oliver and felt the true sense of community and the importance of giving back.
Rudi Guidi Memorial Scholarship -$500
Criteria – teaching or left to the discretion of the School’s Scholarship committee to determine a recipient.
Mr Guidi was an all-star basketball player in the Okanagan Valley for many years. He was the Principal of Oliver Elementary School from 1935 to 1973 where he ran sports programs and organized a large number of musical pageants for the students.
He led the Christ the King music program for many years. Rudi was also an active member of the Rotary Club of Oliver. He died in 1994
(A.E.) Nick Jones Memorial Scholarship -$550
Criteria - the recipients post-secondary goal must be in the educational field of arts or sciences and that the recipients second year of post-secondary studies must be at a university.
Nick Jones came to SOSS in 1954 and retired from his teaching role in 1980. He did however, continue to instruct in Physics for a number of years after this.
During his time at SOSS, nick came to epitomize academics because of his recognized interest and abilities in math and phsyics. And no wonder, he started studying at Glasgow University at age 14 after winning the medal as top student in Scotland.
He received a Masters Degree in Phsyics from London University and a Doctorate from Heidelberg in Germany.
Nick taught at MIT in Boston, Kartoum, Sudan, Lima Peru and Glasgow University as well as serving as a Naval Commander on a number of British war ships during World War II. After hearing about the lovely peaches that grew in the Okanagan, Nick came to Oliver to teach for one year, met a working nurse at St. Martin's Hospital and stayed.
Robert George McDowell Memorial Scholarships - 2 x $650
Born August 18, 1908, Mr. McDowell joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 1927. He completed his training at Broadview, Sk. and he completed a 5 year posting at Aklavik, NWT between 1928-1933.
In 1931, Const McDowell assisted in the arrest of the notorious "Mad Trapper" of Rat River. Mr . Johnson, the "Mad Trapper" was stealing from the other trapper's trap lines. During the arrest, another RCMP officer, Constable King, was shot in the chest. McDowell realized that King's injuries were serious, loaded him onto a toboggan drawn by dogs and set out for Aklalvik to get medical help. This was an 80 mile trip that normally took 2 days. King was treated in the hospital and recovered from his injuriea thanks to McDowell.
In June, 1938 he represented the Canadian Mounties at Canada House in England. During the war he was posted in Halifax. Robert McDowell retired from the RCMP and moved to Oliver in 1955 where he operated an orchard for 41 years. He sold the orchard in 1996 and moved to the town of Oliver. Faye Danby, Mr. McDowell's sister, recently passed away at the age of 81.
Pat McGibbon Memorial Scholarship - $500
Criteria – Outstanding ability in the Fine Arts (excluding Drama & Performing Arts)
Pat McGibbon was a wonderful mother, fantastic teacher assistant at Tuc-el-Nuit school, and great watercolour artist. Here is her story.
Mary Patricia Childerstone was born in Toronto on July 12th, 1934. She had a twin sister Barbara and a big sister Marjorie. Her parents were Hubert and Helen Childerstone.
In 1939, they moved to England where her father joined in the war effort with the RCMP Provost No.1. After the war they landed in Halifax and took the train across Canada to Vancouver. The family moved with the RCMP several times and finally settled in Kelowna.
Pat graduated from Kelowna Secondary School. She moved to Oliver in 1954. She married John McGibbon, a lifelong Oliver resident, and settled down to raise a family. She later divorced and raised the family as a single parent.
Pat had three children, D’Arcy (Cathy), Mary (Sam) and Andrew (Jennifer). The grandchildren are Sara, Shannon, Maxwell, Lauren, Ashlee, Karly, Ross and Roderick. The great grandchildren are Dylan, Lexi, Maddox, Piper and Quinn.
Pat`s grandfather was a professional artist working in watercolours and pastels, with a focus on British country scenes and horses. Her father and her sisters also enjoyed painting in various styles and mediums.
Pat`s first artwork masterpiece was crayon on a bed sheet after receiving crayons but no paper in her Christmas stocking. It was a mistake on the part of Santa Claus. Once her children were grown she took a botanical watercolour course in Penticton. In the 1980`s she went to a Federation Of Canadian Artist`s camp on Saltspring Island. Pat also enjoyed dabbling in batik and print making and took a course in furniture refinishing. Many of the citizens of Oliver have botanical watercolours, paintings of historical buildings and paintings of their houses hanging on their walls. Through her work with the Oliver Arts Council, Pat was an inspiration to many local artists. She was also a member of the Canadian Federation of artists. Pat was also a dedicated volunteer of the local cancer society.
Pat passed away in 1994 but her legacy in the arts still continues today. In 1997, the first Pat McGibbon Memorial Scholarship was awarded. Students chosen for this $500 award have demonstrated outstanding ability in fine arts, excluding drama and performing arts.
Jack McKay (Rotary) Memorial Scholarship - $500
Criteria - a deserving and needy student who intends to further his/her education.
Mr McKay was a mining engineer and has worked all over the world. He was, during his latter years, a resident of Oliver. He was active in the Rotary Club, particularly in promoting international youth exchanges.
His children raised the scholarship fund in his memory. The family may be represented by one of his daughters, Mrs Win Mellon.
Roger McKay Memorial Scholarship - $1000
Criteria - This scholarship is to be awarded to a student who demonstrates excellence in a combination of academics, athletics participation, and community involvement.
Roger passed away in 2023, and with funds contributed from family, friends and the Enrichment
Fund Society, a memorial scholarship was established in Roger’s name, with an annual scholarship
of $1000.00.
Roger McKay and his wife Gunhild moved to Oliver in 1966, where Roger was hired as a PE teacher after graduating at the top of his class from the University of British Columbia. At SOSS, Roger was
a PE Teacher, a Counselor, A Vice-Principal, a coach of multiple sports, and a community builder
from 1966 to 1996.
Among his many contributions to his community, Roger started Oliver Mini-Ball in 1975, a youth
basketball league that continues to this day. He also initiated the Dry Grad movement in 1990, and
during the 1970’s, he spearheaded the transformation of the top field from rocks and sagebrush to
one of the best outdoor sports fields in the valley. Perhaps his most impactful legacy is the SOSS
Enrichment Fund Society, which Roger founded in 1994. Since then, the and in 2024, the
Enrichment Fund has grown to over $1,000,000 and has provided financial assistance to over
500 graduating students from SOSS.
Roger believed in the importance of participation in sport-whether as an athlete, a manager, a minor official, a coach, or a referee. He believed that sport builds character and enhances the educational experience or the individual, while at the same time improving the overall culture of the school.
Elizabeth Ann Meadows Scholarship - $500
Criteria – high academic standing, continuing in the field of Science
Ms Meadows received recognition for academic excellence during her grade 7 year (1935-36) in Oliver. In July, 1942, Ms meadows, as a "Miss Canada" candidate, promoted the sale of war savings stamps in order to help the War Finance Committee.
Ms Meadow's father was Const. Richard Meadows who was a provincial policeman in Oliver. On June 25, 1936, he was promoted to corporal, then transferred to Penticton as Officer-In-Charge. Const. Meadows retired from the Provincial Police force in 1938, then returned to Oliver to live in a newly built house on Tuc el nuit Lake.
Ms Meadows died in Victoria, where she had her home. Her surviving relatives, mainly nieces and members of her husband's family reside in the Lower Mainland and elsewhere in Canada
Phuoi Thai Memorial Scholarship - $500
Criteria – To an immigrant furthering education in the field of Agriculture
Phuoi Thai immigrated to Canada in 1980 and moved to Oliver BC where he worked long hours in the farming business. He raised his family of 4 children on the family farm where is ran his business PT Farm Market Ltd until his death in March of 2019.
This award was first presented in 2020.
Ivan Walker Memorial Scholarship - $500
In 2013 Wade Walker was in the position to make a generous donation to the SOSS Enrichment Fund Society. He contacted John Echlin, an SOSS Enrichment Fund board member and discussed his plan. After careful thought, Wade and his brother Norm decided that they would like the scholarship to be awarded to a graduating student who has successfully faced challenges (physical, mental or economic circumstances), with determination and courage to do their best. This graduating student would have shared hope, understanding and compassion with others, through words and deeds.
Wade Walker had only one item on his bucket list. Twenty years ago he made a promise to himself that involved remembrance and paying it forward. Last year Wade completed his bucket list. Wade established a South Okanagan Secondary School Enrichment Fund Memorial
Scholarship in the name of his brother Ivan who was diagnosed with an extremely rare and fatal degenerative disease called Neman Picks. Neman Picks is a liver disorder.
Ivan moved to Oliver in 1966 with his parents Loyde and Barbara, three brothers David, Norman and two sisters Diane and Noreen. All of his siblings attended SOSS. In 1969 Ivan and his older sister Diane, were both diagnosed with the liver disorder.
Diane passed away at St. Martin's Hospital at the age of 19. Ivan spent the last three years of his
life in the Penticton Extended Care. Ivan died in 1980 at the age of 23.
Ivan struggled in accepting his life fate but never gave in to his illness. With the helping hands of the people of Oliver he managed to find some peace and acceptance in the short life he was given. At the age of 17, citizens of Oliver and the Lions Club of Oliver raised enough money to send Ivan to Disneyland on his dream vacation. His mother, Barbara, wrote a letter to the editor of the Oliver Chronicle after the 'passing of Ivan, thanking them for their love, support and generosity.
"Carpe Diem" was Ivan's motto and in his waning years he counseled fellow young people that shared a common challenge at the Penticton Training Center and the Easter Seal Camp in Winfield. He returned to other people the kindness and understanding that the Town of Oliver had so embraced him, especially from the teachers and counselors of SOSS.
Dave Wight Memorial Scholarship - $500
Dave was born in New York city and grew up in Oliver and attended Oliver Elementary School. He attended the University of Washington in Seattle and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Geography. He worked for CP Air in Vancouver and returned to Oliver and became a partner with his father in the general insurance business in 1978.
Much of his work was in community service. particularly with the Oliver Rotary Club and the Oliver and District Chamber of Commerce. He was a founder and executive member of the South Okanagan Secondary School Enrichment Fund Society, The Oliver Desert Centre Committee and the Hike and Bike Trail.
Dave Wight passed away suddenly, June 2004 at the age of fifty-eight, while on a family holiday in Florida.
The scholarship fund is made up of donations from friends and family.
J. L. Wight Family Scholarship - $1000
Criteria – further education in Liberal Arts
James Laird Wight was born in North Vancouver. His connection to Oliver began in 1919 when his uncle was appointed superintendent of the government nurseries for the Southern Okanagan Land Project. Joan Lillian Wight was born in New Westminster and arrived in Oliver in 1921 when her family settled here. Her father, Victor Fairweather, established the Oliver and Osoyoos Hardware Stores.
Laird grew up in Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington. He worked in the insurance business in Oliver, Vancouver and Seattle. He and his family returned to Oliver when he joined the family hardware business. Joan attended school in Oliver and worked in the Oliver Hardware until her marriage to Laird. Both were active in the community with their main focus being the Oliver Rotary Club. Laird was a charter member of the Club in 1945 and an active member for fifty years. Joan received a special award for her contribution to Rotary in 1997.
This Scholarship began in 1996 and was revised in 2021 when the family provided additional funds to the Enrichment Society to increase the annual award from $500 to $1000.
Awards also administered by the Enrichment Fund Society
Fairview Mtn Golf Course Scholarship - $1500
Criteria - Students considered for this award may be a male or female golfer, a junior member of FMGC or employee of FMGC.
The Southern Okanagan Secondary School Alumni Scholarship - $500
June 2014 saw the first year that this award was presented. This award recognizes graduating students that have achieved outstanding accomplishments during their high school career.
Expired Awards (also administered by the Enrichment Fund Society)
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Community Pharmacists Scholarship
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Alice and Bill Fraser Memorial Scholarship
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Peter Makaseff Memorial Scholarship
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Al Mutlow Memorial Scholarship
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Testalinda Women’a Institute Bursary
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Ann E Wight Memorial Scholarship