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Birchbank awards Howie Fishwick Memorial scholarship

Fruitvale’s Spencer Donaldson is the winner of this year’s $2,500 Fishwick scholarship.
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Spencer Donaldson

With the rising cost of tuition, an award like Howie Fishwick Memorial scholarship is indeed a welcome boost to a young person’s education.

The Rossland-Trail Country Club at Birchbank (RTCC) announced that Fruitvale’s Spencer Donaldson is the winner of this year’s $2,500 Fishwick scholarship.

Donaldson, who is attending the University of Northern British Columbia in Prince George this fall to study environmental engineering, says the award will certainly help out in making his first year a success.

Donaldson has worked in the Birchbank pro shop, back shop, and as part of the grounds crew for a number of years and hopes to apply his studies to the golf world.

“Environmental engineering can help you get into water supply like for golf courses and things like that,” said Donaldson. “I think it would be cool to be water treatment (manager) for a golf course. You can come to a golf course and say ‘Okay you can put holes this close to the water without putting pollutants into the river.’”

The scholarship is in its second year, and was bequeathed by long-time RTCC member Howie Fishwick, whose estate donated $100,000 to maintain the fund.

The scholarship seeks persons demonstrating dedication and drive in pursuing their post-secondary goals. Eligible applicants must be a junior member at the Birchbank golf course and enrolled in a post-secondary institution. In addition, the applicant must write a short essay and answer questions relevant to merit.

“As far as why he was selected, it was a combination of not only his membership, and although working here isn’t a criteria, but I think it was looked upon that his contributions to the club have been even more significant than someone who has just been a junior member,” said Birchbank business manager Kelly Rintoul.

The scholarship is unique to Birchbank and, with the generous fund intact and managed by the LeRoi Foundation, will be a legacy for many years to come.

“It’s something that’s going to continue, so from the Club’s perspective I think it’s a really good way to promote the club, junior memberships, and education,” added Rintoul.

 

 

 

 



Jim Bailey

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