Three students are the first recipients of the Neil Muth Memorial Scholarship established earlier this year by the Muth family and Columbia Basin Trust.
The scholarship awarded $3,500 each to three students who have overcome adversity to pursue their educational dreams. Michael Cupello from Trail, Natalia Grass from Golden and Cole Hoodicoff from Castlegar are the recipients of the scholarship this year.
“We received more than 100 applications for the scholarship. There were many brave stories, each one worth hearing. It was a privilege to read them. We appreciate the courage and honesty of all of the applicants, and were moved by the very personal stories each one of the three recipients shared with us,” said Cathy Muth, Neil’s wife.
“They exemplify the spirit of perseverance we want to acknowledge with this scholarship,” she said.
“Being chosen as one of the recipients of the Neil Muth Memorial Scholarship is an honour. As a student who graduated from J.L. Crowe in 2014 and Selkirk College this past spring, my plans are to one day return to the region. I will be attending Thompson Rivers University in the fall to complete my Bachelor of Arts. Thank you to the Muth family, Columbia Basin Trust, and my mother for believing in me,” said Michael Cupello.
“This scholarship means an incredible amount to me; being chosen shows that I can achieve the things I could before the accident if I put my mind to it. The Neil Muth Memorial Scholarship also lets me give back to my family, who has supported me without qualms, by easing their financial burden. Again thank you to everyone at the Trust, and especially the family of Neil Muth, for this incredible opportunity!” Natalia Grass said.
Cole Hoodicoff is entering the engineering program at Selkirk College this fall. “Then I’ll be going to University of Victoria for three or four more years. This scholarship will help quite a bit for the university years. I’m very grateful for it,” he said.
The Neil Muth Memorial Scholarship honours Neil Muth, the Trust’s president and chief executive officer from 2005 through 2016, who passed away last November. Neil valued and supported perseverance and continuous learning. He encouraged his children, staff and others to be curious, to seek their own path, and to never give up.
The scholarship is awarded by the Muth family, administered by Columbia Basin Trust and made possible by the generous donations of family, friends, local governments and organizations.
