This endowment remembers and honours an outstanding student, special friend, community volunteer, and an exceptional ornithologist – Ryan Cathers. Ryan was a Bachelor of Science student from 2010-2014, majoring in Biology and specializing in ecological sciences. Ryan was one of the most active volunteers with the VIU Bird Banding Project, and a leader in Nanaimo’s birding community. He was always keen to learn, with a positive outlook and a wonderful sense of humour. This $1,500 annual scholarship will be awarded to a 3rd or 4th year VIU Biology student, with career goals or interests in ecology and natural history, including ornithology. The scholarship is awarded to a student in recognition of community and/or university volunteer excellence, and who shares Ryan’s passion and curiosity for natural history.
Award Recipients
- Liam Surry and Rebekah (Bekah) Walton, 2024
- Alysia Boudreau, 2023
- Keely Dodds and Danielle Lacasse, 2022
- Aliandra (Ally) Badger, 2021
- Olivia Murphy, 2020
- Samuelle Simard-Provençal, 2019
- Braden Judson, 2018
- Stewart Pearce, 2017
- Sarah Chalmers, 2016
- Elsie Hampshire, 2015