| 2011 Forkin Memorial Scholarships awarded Local 258 IBEW congratulates the three applicants who were successful in being selected for this year’s Tom Forkin Memorial Scholarships. Since 1991, Local 258 has awarded a member or a member’s dependant who is attending or planning to attend a post-secondary program in British Columbia the Tom Forkin Memorial Scholarship. Consideration is also given to students who may be attending a post-secondary institution outside of BC. This year’s winning essays asked applicants to explain their educational goals and their labour activities. The union would like to congratulate this year’s successful applicants: Shannon Kehl is from Salmon Arm and is currently completing Grade 12. She plans on attending Okanagan College and then move on to University to obtain a degree in Social Work. Her father, Jan Kehl, is a member of Local 258. Read her essay here. Kim Lipscombe, who speaks five languages, is from Nelson, BC and is currently in her third year of studying Professional Communications at Royal Roads University in Victoria. Her plans for the future include facilitating intercultural communication. Kim’s dad Barry is a member of Local 258. Read her essay here. Michael Petersen is from Chilliwack and is currently completing Grade 12. His future plans include attending the University of the Fraser Valley with the goal of obtaining his teaching certificate. Michael’s dad is an IBEW member and currently works with BC Hydro and his grandfather is John Josephson who also worked at BC Hydro and is a retired Local 258 member. Read his essay here.
Essay submitted by Shannon Kehl: Having both a father and a mother advocate for and belong to unions has shaped my understanding of their history and value. With the fair wages provided from both of their union jobs I have been able to enjoy more time with my parents and have also had opportunities such as family vacations that may not have been possible without paid vacation. With amazing extended health and dental I have never had to worry about necessary but expensive dental procedures or medications. Special leave has allowed my parents to remain at home with both me and my sister when we were sick and I have seen first-hand the value of sick leave as well. Of course these benefits are only a few on the long list that a union provides you with. The labour movement and the dedication and sacrifice of those that set the stage for improved working conditions has greatly improved these invaluable requirements and has also affectedmy life because I have witnessed both of my parents' positions, an electrician like my father, or a nurse like my mother as they both have excellent unions backing them. Whilst considering my career options in high school, I involved myself in several different volunteer efforts to expand my horizons including volunteering at my younger sister's swim meets during the summers and also at a children's triathlon in my community. I worked for my current employer last summer for a total of 3 weeks as a co-organizer of the Salmon Arm Annual Triathlon to experience the area of leadership. However, I found that after volunteering for two years as a candy striper in a hospital and retirement home that I had a passion for helping those in need. Therefore I cam to the conclusion that I would be most suited for a job in social work, a job where I Can help better my community continually as well as belong to another very good union, something that I find necessary in a career choice. In order to save money for post-secondary education, as I will be paying for my schooling myself, I have worked in several seer-benefits, minimum wage jobs in my community over the span of four years. This has showed me how advantageous it will be to belong to a union. It is my goal to attend the local college for one year to reduce my costs and then move on to university to obtain a master's degree in social work. I plan on beginning work in BC immediately afterwards and working in several different areas to get an idea of what our province has to offer and how I can give back through my job. I believe a union would provide me with the support I need to excel throughout my entire career as a social worker.
Essay submitted by Kim Lipscombe: I am a dedicated student and volunteer with a passion for languages and cultures. I am currently studying Professional Communications at Royal Roads university in Victoria, BC. When I finish the program, I plan to use the skills gained in this program along with my professional, volunteer and intercultural experiences to establish a career facilitating intercultural communication. I love being involved in my community and contributing my skills and enthusiasm to worthy causes. In Nelson, I was a volunteer Fire Fighter and First Responder for more than three years. I also joined Nelson Search and Rescue and of the Columbia Basin Trust Youth Advisory Committee. This year I played a big role in promoting and coordinating the Victoria Francophone Society's annual community French festival. At Royal Roads university, I am the court Representative for the Student Association Sustainability Committee and a member of the Professional Education Committee. In everything I do, I strive to be an inspiration for others to discover the joy of volunteering. Since graduating from the French Immersion program in high school, I have studied, worked, and volunteered on three continents. I participated in a year-long Rotary Youth Exchange to Ecuador where I became fluent in Spanish and aware of the impact that language and culture have on communication. In 2009, I took the opportunity to study for nine months as an exchange student at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies in Japan. Not only did I gain an understanding of the Japanese language and culture, but I developed a deeper understanding of my own language and culture. I also volunteered for two months in Brazil where I learned my fifth language, Portuguese. Throughout these experiences living abroad, I developed a great appreciation for the labour laws in our country and for the unions that have helped workers in many industries fight for their employment rights. My father has belonged to the IBEW Local 258 for more than 20 years abs I have observed firsthand how the union assisted him and his colleagues in bargaining procedures and agreements to ensure fair wages and guarantee overtime and statutory holiday pay. This insight will help me in my mission to encourage global understanding and social justice. I believe that change begins with education and awareness. I plan to use my cultural and linguistic experience in a career that provides the greatest benefit to the local community and global society. My passion for 'sense of community' and dedication to community involvement and social well-being will aid me in attaining my goals. As demonstrated by this scholarship offer, the IBEW strongly believes in education and training and helps members and their relatives finance their eduction. I would like to thank IBEW not only for the role it played in my growth as a community-minded individual and for helping me realize my educational and life goals by providing scholarships but also for its contribution to our communities and global societies.
Essay submitted by Michael Petersen The International brotherhood of Electrical Workers has made a positive impact on my life and my family for two generations. The IBEW has provided my family with job security, healthcare, a quality standard of living and most importantly, it has ensured the safety of my dad and grandpa. The influence of IBEW 258 has given me the opportunity to pursue my dreams in education. In 1965, my grandparents moved from Manitoba to british Columbia, as my grandpa, John Josephson, secured a job with BC Hydro as a lineman. The IBEW provided my grandfather with stability in wages, better working conditions and safety practices that surpassed Manitoba Hydro (using hot sticks instead of rubber gloves). throughout his 32 years of working at BC Hydro, my grandpa worked safely and was even able to save a man's life (pole top rescue) with the training ensured by the union. My grandpa was able to support his growing family and put his kids through school. Thanks to that, my mother earned a teaching degree and is an active member in her local teachers association. My grandpa's love of his job influenced my dad, Colin petersen, to serve his apprenticeship and become a sub-foreman lineman in Hope. Both my dad and grandpa value what the IBEW has fought for in negotiations such as: wages, working conditions, training, and benefits but most importantly safety practice regulations. Unfortunately, my dad fell from the top of a pole and broke his neck in 1990. Although he fully recovered, and was back on the job in six months, this terrible experience has driven him to serve on local safety committees, safety sub-committees, as well as the safety practices committee. This work is time consuming and requires that he travel, but my dad has inspired me with his passion to ensure others are safe and able to come home to their families. After graduating from Sardis Secondary School, I will be focusing my studies on earning a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the Fraser Valley and then apply to the Tacher Education Program. My ultimate goal is to become a teacher. During this time, I will continue to be involved in sports and community programs. I will be an active participant in Chilliwack Minor Hockey by officiating games (as I do now) and volunteering as a trainer or coach. I believe this involvement will help me relate o our youth and begin to build a better understanding of how to connect and motivate students to be engaged in their learning. I have had the benefit of being taught by many inspring teachers who have sparked my excitement to learn. I strive to be a passionate educator that demonstrates integrity, tenacity and enthusiasm for learning. As I pursue my dreams, I hope to honour my dad and grandpa by appreciating the impact of the labour movement and continue to give back to my workplace and my community. |
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