Great Plains College awards more than $231K in fall scholarships
By Kate Winquist
SWIFT CURRENT — Great Plains College has awarded more than $231,000 in entrance scholarships, bursaries and awards to 155 students this fall.
“This is far more than a statistic — it represents real opportunities for 155 students to continue their education,” president and CEO Brad Mahon said in a release. “Financial barriers can be overwhelming, and scholarships help remove those obstacles so students can focus on learning and achieving their goals.”
The college says it has invested nearly $2.5 million in scholarships and awards over the years.
This fall’s scholarship distribution included more than $151,000 for students at the Swift Current campus and more than $80,000 for students at campuses in Maple Creek, Martensville, Kindersley and Warman.
Another $10,000 in International Student Awards went to second-year diploma students at the Warman campus.
Eleven Adult Basic Education Persistence Awards will be presented in December to students in Kindersley, Martensville and Maple Creek, including three Indigenous ABE awards sponsored by Living Sky Casino.
Additional scholarships are expected to be awarded in the winter semester, with about 32 students set to receive a further $40,000. That amount includes $19,500 for 13 practical nursing students in Biggar.
Two new bursaries were also awarded for the first time in 2025-26: the Barbara Lindsay Practical Nursing Bursary, which will provide two annual $2,500 awards to practical nursing students for the next decade, and the Great Plains College Board Bursary, which will award at least one $500 bursary each year.
“As National Philanthropy Day approaches on Nov. 15, we want to extend an extra thank you to our donors for their ongoing support,” Mahon said.
The college has published a complete list of its 2024-25 donors and sponsors on its website. Applications for the 2025-26 academic year are now open, and students who apply to a full-time, student-loan-eligible program by April 30, 2026, are automatically considered for a $500-to-$3,000 entrance scholarship.
More information about scholarships, deadlines and donor opportunities is available at greatplainscollege.ca.