Shawnigan is proud to congratulate seven students who were recently awarded the Dogwood District Scholarship presented by the BC Ministry of Education.

The Dogwood Scholarships are awarded annually to BC students demonstrating superior achievement in any area of fine arts, leadership, athletics, music, applied skills and languages. Prior to the selection Shawnigan applicants were invited to showcase their talent in their chosen discipline at an adjudication evening held at St Margaret's on April 26th. Achievement can be presented in the form of performances, portfolios or an interview process on the showcase evening, and students compete against other grade 12 students from Independent Schools on Vancouver Island.

This year seven Shawnigan student were awarded scholarships in a variety of areas including Creative Writing, Yearbook/Journalism, Performance in Sport: Individual and Team, Studio Arts: Drawing/Painting, Second Languages: French, and Textiles.

Here is what one Shawnigan winner had to say about her experience, "I think the fact that I'd been published helped a lot, but I believe the adjudicators really took to heart the things that Mr. Connolly, my writing teacher, wrote about me in his letter of reference. I owe my Dogwood Scholarship for creative writing to Mr. Connolly. In part for the things he wrote in my reference letter, but more so for everything he has taught me and all the inspiration he has given me in the two years that I have had him as a teacher.