Doctors of BC Postsecondary Scholarship Fund winners

The Doctors of BC scholarship is awarded annually to two children of Doctors of BC members who display outstanding scholastic achievement, remarkable volunteer contributions, and well-rounded extracurricular interests. Each recipient receives a $1000 scholarship toward postsecondary education. Winners are selected by Doctors of BC committee members through an anonymous process. This year's winners are:

Anokh Singh Dhillon, Surrey, BC
Mr Dhillon graduated from Semiahmoo Secondary School in the international baccalaureate program. His high academic achievement has been recognized with admission to the University of British Columbia as a Chancellor's Scholar, where he will be pursuing a bachelor of arts degree in history along with completing prerequisites for medical school. In addition to maintaining an outstanding academic standing in high school, Mr Dhillon is a captain and coach of his high school debate team--competing provincially, nationally, and internationally. In grade 11, Mr Dhillon placed in the top 10 as an individual and won first place in the team category of an international debate tournament held in Germany. Throughout high school Mr Dhillon was also involved in community programs such as the Empowered Club, which helps alleviate poverty in the developing world; the Vancouver Brain Bee, as a coach for participants; and Sikhs for Justice, to raise awareness of human rights abuses by the Indian state.

Andrew Welsh, Abbotsford, BC
Mr Welsh aspires to be a biomedical engineer and will pursue his aspiration at the University of Waterloo, where he has been accepted into the honours biomedical engineering program. Mr Welsh's interest in biomedical technology stems from having survived a brain tumor and wanting to give back to the field of medical technology that helped him overcome this adversity. Mr Welsh achieved significant academic success in science and math while attending the Mennonite Educational Institute, receiving the top mark in his high school for calculus, physics, and chemistry courses. Mr Welsh has also played the violin since age 5 and is currently playing at a grade-10 level. He performs in concerts and community events as part of the Abbotsford Youth Orchestra, has competed in numerous festivals, and has won several awards. Mr Welsh also devotes time to volunteer activities in his community--teaching at a free after-school music program for disadvantaged youth provided by the Bakerview Music Academy, playing violin at local care homes and hospitals, and teaching Sunday school.