An Abbotsford teen is among 44 youth across the province who have been named as recipients of Coast Capital’s Standing Tall Education Awards.
Dave Tshilolo is a recent graduate of Rick Hansen Secondary and is a recipient of the award “in recognition of his ability to fly above adversity and excel in academics,” according to a press release.
The release states that Tshilolo overcame family health challenges and financial hardships throughout high school. He is now pursuing his goal of becoming a commercial pilot and is studying at Prairie College in Alberta in the associate of arts in mission aviation program.
“I cannot express how grateful I am to Coast Capital for selecting me as a Standing Tall Education Award recipient,” he said. “This award is a huge help in closing the gap between my finances and my aspirations of becoming a pilot.”
The awards program, established in 2004, recognizes resilient youth who have risen up against the odds to pursue their post-secondary education.
Each education award is worth $3,500.
Since it inception, the program has supported more than 1,000 students with an investment of almost $2.9 million.
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