Katherine Engqvist

Special to the Gazette

Bronwyn Stauffer was on stage, diploma in hand, at her high school graduation when she heard the news for the first time. The Grade 12 graduate of Edward Milne Community School in Sooke had just been awarded a scholarship to cover her entire tuition.

B次元官网网址淢y family is just going crazy and I was almost in tears,B次元官网网址� she said. Her father videoed the whole thing and her mother? B次元官网网址淪he broke her belt when she found out,B次元官网网址� Stauffer said.

She is the recipient of a $13,800 scholarship for the esthetics/spa therapy program at Colwood-based Academy of Excellence, the largest the company has ever awarded. The extensive 1,500-hour program teaches all aspects of tradition esthetics and advance spa therapy, with 30 per cent of the program spent in the classroom and 70 per cent in the spa. Students also get to sample, at least once, all of the treatments they are learning.

B次元官网网址淭his is the beginning of my career and I just canB次元官网网址檛 wait to get started,B次元官网网址� Stauffer said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e heard nothing but amazing things about this school.B次元官网网址�

Danielle St. Jacques, registrar of the Academy of Excellence, met with the future student on Wednesday to give her a tour of the facilities and formally begin the enrolment process so she can begin classes in September.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e never done anything like this before. We wanted to do something relevant to the excitement of our 50th,B次元官网网址� St. Jacques said, adding they wanted to give back to the community that has supported them.

The scholarship was open to all local high school students, but StaufferB次元官网网址檚 17-page application describing her commitment and passion for the beauty industry well exceeded the requirements, St. Jacques said.  B次元官网网址淪he stood out as someone very deserving of the scholarship and weB次元官网网址檙e very excited to give it to her.B次元官网网址�

Most of the AcademyB次元官网网址檚 students are funded by student loans, St. Jacques said, and once they graduate they have six months before they have to start paying back their loans.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 an amazing opportunity,B次元官网网址� said Stauffer.

She is already looking to her future with plans of one day opening her own shop and looks forward to the business component of the program, which teaches the realities of starting a business.

B次元官网网址淚t still hasnB次元官网网址檛 hit me,B次元官网网址� she said, after delivering a thank-you card to the school. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 such an honour.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com