When second year Coast Mountain College Nursing student,  Kennedy Rutledge learned she had received the Alma VanDusen award from the Vancouver Foundation, she was thrilled.

"The bursary has enabled me to continue to thrive and ease my financial stress," says Rutledge. She plans to put the funds toward the purchase of a new stethoscope and textbooks to support her next semester of classes.

At just 22, Rutledge had been working as a Health Care Assistant, but in the course of her work, she realized that nursing was where she wanted to focus her efforts and grow her career. 

Knowing that she could take her first two years of her nursing degree at Coast Mountain College and then transfer for her last two years at UNBC's Terrace campus, she knew she could continue to study and live in her home community. Rutledge plans to stay and work in Terrace post-graduation, so she can serve those who need it most in her own community.

In addition to pursuing her studies in nursing, Rutledge is a mom to a vivacious two-year-old named Khloe and knows that by pursuing her passion in health, she is teaching her daughter to also pursue her own dreams.

The Alma VanDusen award provides bursaries that assist full-time, female students in financial need who have identified academic or vocational education goals and demonstrated their ability to reach them. 

"I'm really grateful for this award," Rutledge says, and encourages other students to explore what awards and bursaries are available through the CMTN Foundation and Coast Mountain College.

A list of bursaries and awards can be found here: coastmountaincollege.ca/awards