CFPD honours local students with bursaries at annual celebration

It was an evening filled with pride and plenty of applause as the Community Foundation of Portage and District (CFPD) celebrated the next generation of local leaders at its 31st Annual Celebration. Surrounded by family, friends, and supporters, students were recognized for their academic achievements and awarded bursaries to help support their ongoing educational journeys. 

Among this year’s recipients were two students who shared not just the same award, but also a deep appreciation for the support it symbolizes. 

Cassandra Garnham, a two-time recipient of the Dr. Harvey Hassard Memorial Bursary valued at $1,495, says the award represents more than just financial relief. It’s a vote of confidence from her community. 

“Winning the bursary is an amazing accomplishment,” Garnham says. “I feel very fortunate and supported by our community.” 

Garnham’s nursing journey has brought her full circle, back to the Portage District General Hospital, where she’s been working in the Emergency Department for the past year and a half. She plans to continue serving locally throughout her master’s studies and beyond. 

“I did my diploma program in Brandon at Assiniboine Community College and then did the bridging program at Red River College. Following graduation, I have been working at the Portage Hospital Emergency Department, and I hope to continue working here. Having that Portage support makes me want to give back to the community,” she explains. 

Another local student, Sydney Rumpli, also received the Dr. Harvey Hassard Memorial Bursary. A University of Manitoba student heading into a Doctor of Pharmacy program this fall, Rumpli expresses deep gratitude for the award and the encouragement it represents. 

“I’m super touched, and it makes me feel so blessed to be connected more in the community,” she says. 

Rumpli, who has already completed three years of undergraduate science studies, learned about the bursary through her mother and the CFPD’s social media channels. She says the simple online application process was well worth it, especially for students navigating through the high costs of post-secondary education. 

“Bursaries like this make everything so much more possible. It makes you feel like someone believes in your journey by helping you along the way,” she adds. 

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The full list of 2025 CFPD Bursary Winners:

• Montana Murray - Russ Denton Memorial Bursary ($1,345.00) 
• Czarina Castellano - KD3 Bursary ($925.00) 
• Gracie Rose - Dr. Donald William Rae Memorial Bursary ($1,225.00) 
• Cassandra Garnham - Dr. Harvey Hassard Memorial Bursary ($1,495.00) 
• Sydney Rumpli - Dr. Harvey Hassard Memorial Bursary ($1,495.00) 
• Katherine Knox - Portage & Rural MS Support Bursary ($300.00) 
• Briley Wing - Lorraine Rae Bursary ($1,485.00) and Bill & Cathy Skyhar Bursary ($500.00) 
• Colby Nikkel - Portage la Prairie Community Development Corporation Bursary ($1,450.00) 
• Ayushi Gusain - Don & Lois Booth Memorial Bursary ($510.00) 
• Tyler Martens - Jody Lee Fulton Memorial Bursary ($2,530.00) 
• Gracie Gargol - Radford Award for Math ($1,250.00) 
• Zachery Caners - Radford Award for Science ($1,250.00) 

In addition to these honours, the CFPD awarded 48 more bursaries and scholarships to students from Portage Collegiate Institute (PCI), presented during the school’s awards ceremony earlier this week to the following students:

• Neela Pashe - Alice Mayor Bursary ($510.00) 
• Tennyson Verwey - Alexis Unrau Bursary ($1,620.00) 
• Ashley Swidnicki - Alix Lorraine Barrett Bursary ($490.00) 
• Brianna Preston - AMHS Farewell Bursary ($1,020.00) 
• Kade Friesen - Arlan Asham Award ($370.00) and Bill Linden Bursary ($1,116.00) 
• Taylor Klaassen - Barbara Alice Beck Bursary ($500.00) 
• Jacey Aucoin - Bill Linden Bursary ($1,116.00) 
• Colby Nikkel - Bill Linden Bursary ($1,116.00) 
• Luca Sevcenko - Brad J. Barrett Bursary ($540.00) 
• Ridhima Sharma - Cameron J. Hoover Memorial Bursary ($800.00) 
• Grace Moar - Doreen Buchanan Bursary ($1,090.00) 
• Jaden Knight - Elma Slack Bursary ($1,500.00) 
• Jobe Schiltroth - Ernie & Jocelyne Durand Bursary ($250.00) 
• Sia Miglani - Florence Metheral Award ($1,630.00), Greenberg Family Fund ($1,000.00), Nell Owens Excellence in Writing Fund ($335.00), and PCI Alumni Award (Scholastic) ($1,340.00) 
• Benjamin Matthews-McCulley - Gage Foster Athletic Scholarship ($2,310.00) 
• Carter Zacharias - George & Wanda Ryder Trades Bursary ($1,340.00) 
• Gracie Gargol - Grace B. Taylor Memorial Scholarship ($2,205.00), and Virgil E. Holmes Memorial Bursary ($1,705.00) 
• Oliver Bures - Gwen Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00)  
• Isabella McLean - Gwen Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Mia Beetham-Outingdyke - Gwen Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Tyler Olson - Gwen Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Samantha Malana - H.C. (Carl) McGregor Bursary ($800.00) 
• Ridhima Sharma - H.C. (Carl) McGregor Bursary ($800.00) 
• Cameron Spence - John Rennie Memorial Bursary ($665.00) 
• Josaphean Taylor - Karen Handford Bursary ($365.00) 
• Isabella Mills - Krista Tully Memorial Bursary ($950.00) 
• Ronin Chalifoux - Margaret Webster Memorial Fund ($775.00) 
• Brooke Fox - Maxine Edmondson Award ($1,275.00) 
• Taylor Bruno - Newton McCleary Bursary ($2,550.00 
• Mackenzie Nicoll - Newton McCleary Bursary ($2,550.00) 
• Stephanie Rosset - Orest & Eva Shewchuk Bursary ($645.00) 
• Cadence Bertholet - Orille Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Kiera Roy - Orille Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Luca Scott - Orille Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Halen Wilcott-Readman - Orille Hogue Bursary ($1,275.00) 
• Zachary Caners-PCI Alumni Award (School Spirit) ($1,340.00) 
• Jeremy Robinson - PCI Alumni Award ($1,340.00) 
• Jovie Plett - PCI Alumni Award ($1,340.00) 
• Ava Klassen-Sokolosky - Reita Richardson Memorial Award ($280.00) 
• Cody Plett - Robert A. & W. James Gibb Fund ($1,430.00) 
• Cas Doucet - Salem and Curtis-Ridge Community Club Fund ($370.00) 
• Montana Murray - Salem and Curtis-Ridge Community Club Fund ($370.00) 
• Jaxon Dubois - Thomas Metheral Award ($1,630.00) 

In a statement made on their Facebook page, CFPD congratulated the many bursary recipients.

"We have immense gratitude to all of the donors who make these awards possible. Investing in our youth is investing in our future!"

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