Okanagan College Foundation
1000 KLO Road V1Y 4X8 Kelowna, BC, Canada

Community support is helping students at Okanagan College thrive under the extraordinary circumstances thrown at them by the pandemic. Learn why donors chose to give and how these gifts are changing students' lives.

Thank you Coldwell Banker Jane Hoffman Realty - Kelowna Real Estate! Jane is using her passion for a healthy community to launch a fundraiser in support of nursing students. #NationalNursingWeek #ourstudentsyourhealth #OkanaganCollege

Last day for entries into the OC "Sticks Up" Bracket Challenge, supporting Indigenous student awards at Okanagan College. Think your team has what it takes to win the Stanley Cup? Want to have some fun while supporting a great cause? Sign up today for our Bracket Challenge and you could win an NHL jersey of your choice. Full details: https://trellis.org/oc-sticks-up

It's #NationalNursingWeek! Thank you to our current students who are studying to become nurses in a challenging time, and all the students before you who answered the call to serve our communities. The first Practical Nursing program started at OC in 1963. ... Thanks to the Okanagan College Alumni Association for putting together this photo collage of student nurses past and present. #ourstudentsyourhealth

OC Sticks Up for Aboriginal Student Awards! OC Aboriginal Services and the OC Foundation have teamed up for the annual Sticks Up campaign. All of the proceeds from this event will benefit the OC Sticks Up for Aboriginal Students Award. Tickets are available online through Trellis. Click this link to enter https://trellis.org/oc-sticks-up - you may also make a donation to support the award fund and receive a bonus entry into our door prize draw!... For only $20 you can fill your bracket predicting the outcome of each series in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, with a chance to win one of three great prizes! 1st Place NHL Jersey of the Winner’s Choice 2nd Place $100 GC for Skip the Dishes 3rd Place $50 GC for Steam online gaming In addition, all entrants will be eligible for a draw to win a Funko Pop! Connor McDavid figure just for participating! If you have any questions, please contact Richard McAdam (OC Foundation) at [email protected] This is a BC Gaming licensed event, so you must be 19+ and a resident of BC to enter. Sports Pool - BC Gaming Licence #128387 Yvonne Oppenheimer (pictured below receiving her 2019 award from Aboriginal Services Coordinator Anthony Isaac) and Erica Seymour were the inaugural recipients of the OC Sticks Up for Aboriginal Students Award. The Awards are presented to students with Aboriginal ancestry who are enrolled in full-time study in any degree, diploma, or certificate program at Okanagan College.

"I am a first-year BSN student and a mother of a 4-month old baby. I am truly honoured to be chosen as a scholarship awardee of the Rotary Club of Kelowna Foundation. I appreciate the help that the foundation has extended to me as I struggle to have both ends meet as I fulfill my roles and responsibilities as a mother, wife, and student. ... Knowing that there is a foundation that is very much supportive of students like me, it motivates me more to pursue my goal to be a Registered Nurse in three years. Also, the Rotary Club of Kelowna Foundation inspires me to give back to the community one day. Thank you so much." - Maria

Most students who enter health care have a compelling story as to why. As we continue to fundraise to complete the new Health Sciences Centre, we want you to meet the students who will benefit from state-of-the-art modern labs and education spaces. Candice Smith was working as a housekeeper in long-term care when she realized what she wanted her future career path to be. "I wanted to be looking after the seniors as opposed to cleaning," recalls Candice.... "In my position I saw what a Health Care Assistant (HCA) did in their day-to-day roles, and I knew I wanted to go back to school to care for people." Yet, Candice was also nervous about returning to school as a mature student with a young son. When her mother passed away suddenly last year, Candice felt compelled to make a change. She registered for school that same week. "It just gave me the drive. I wanted to make my mom proud and do what she would want me to do," says Candice. Now, Candice is nearly halfway through the program and loving the return to school. I feel totally supported the whole way," says Candice. "I love the diversity of the program. There are many avenues you can take your education." Candice hails from the Oregon Jack Creek Indian Band. She feels grateful to have the band support her education and hopes at some point to work with Indigenous communities. For now, she's also looking forward to graduating and being able to help in long-term care which has been stretched to the limit as a result of COVID-19. "The sense I have is that Health Care Assistants are really needed and I can’t wait to start working and caring for seniors." #ourstudentsyourhealth #okanagancollege

Inspired by a passion for our community, Jim Hodgson and Joy Bianco are investing in our youth and future health care professionals with a $30,000 gift to the Health Sciences Centre! Thank you Jim and Joy for supporting students as they pursue meaningful careers in health care. Full story here: http://bit.ly/39AiYsh... #ourstudentsyourhealth #okanagancollege

When we started planning our Student Awards Celebration we did not realize it would fall on Bell Let's Talk Day. It's a happy surprise as the event is about bringing students and donors together, virtually this year, to connect. We know these moments of connection are important, and we hope the event will create meaningful conversations and a sense of community, at a time when many of us need it most. If you're an Okanagan College student, the College has created an interactive page that includes resources to support you. #bellletstalkday

The Okanagan College Foundation in partnership with Okanagan College Trades & Apprenticeship Okanagan College RV Tech Department is pleased to announce that there are two RV units available for auction on our website. These units have beenrepaired by students under the watchful eyes of their instructors as part of their program training. Once fully restored, vehicles are inspected by an authorized inspector and upon approval, are posted for sale. Proceeds are held by Okanagan... College Foundation for program support. Currently available: 2006 R-Vision Max Lite 2012 Dutchmen 265BHS Please visit https://www.okanagan.bc.ca/oc-foundation/vehicle-auction to view these listings and bid. Auctions will run until 2;00pm on Friday, February 5th.

When Maria Kruger graduates as a Certified Dental Assistant from Okanagan College later this year, she will proudly stand among her people as a skilled professional. Kruger, who is of Okanagan/Shuswap descent, has a goal to graduate and work with people in her community on the Penticton Indian Band. A new donation from CIBC along with matching funds from Indspire, will create new opportunities for Indigenous students who want to enter health and social development programs at... Okanagan College. For the next four years, five students per semester will have an opportunity to receive $2,200 towards the costs of their education in a range of health programs. Thank you CIBC and Inspire for this support! Full story here:https://bit.ly/3oV70hU

The Okanagan College Foundation and Okanagan College Trades & Apprenticeship Okanagan College Collision Repair Department announce the latest round of vehicle auctions. Please visit our website to review and bid on three listings: 2013 Chevrolet Cruze 2013 Honda Civic 2014 Hyundai Elantra... Vehicles are repaired by students under the watchful eyes of their instructors as part of their program training. Once fully restored, vehicles are inspected by an authorized inspector and upon approval, are posted for sale. Proceeds are held by Okanagan College Foundation for program support. Auctions will close on Friday, January 29th at 2pm. https://www.okanagan.bc.ca/oc-foundation/vehicle-auction