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Kathy Barnett Memorial Scholarship announced

Women’s Enterprise Centre, Junior Achievement partner in scholarship

The Women’s Enterprise Centre has announced a new scholarship to honour Whistler businesswoman and Pique Newsmagazine founding publisher Kathy Barnett.

The $2,000 scholarship, announced today (May 8) at the Women of Whistler Conference, will be given to a young woman in Grade 11 or 12 who is either a current participant or a recent graduate of a Junior Achievement Business Education Program. It will assist a student pursuing business studies at an accredited Canadian post-secondary institution.

Before her death in January while vacationing in New Zealand Barnett was active in a number of community and business organizations. She was a founding member and past president of the Community Foundation of Whistler, a board member of the Women’s Enterprise Centre of B.C., past chair of the Whistler Chamber of Commerce, and in 2005 she was appointed to the provincial Ministry of Small Business and Revenue’s roundtable on small business.

Her experience encompassed accounting, finance, businesses administration, corporate securities, and small business management consulting.

She was also awarded the Chamber of Commerce’s Business Person of the Year award in 2002.

A scholarship of this nature is a perfect fit said husband Bob Barnett, editor of Pique.

“After her parents died, Kathy put herself through the Commerce program at UBC while working part time,” he said.

“She recognized the career opportunities that a business degree can lead to and she knew how much work was involved. Kathy would be proud that a scholarship in her name will help other women achieve their career goals.”

Kathy was dedicated to helping women achieve success in business said Catherine Osler, chair of the Women’s Enterprise Centre.

But more than that she said: “Kathy’s good humour, quiet wisdom, love of life and strong commitment to making a difference was experienced by all who came into contact with her.”

The scholarship will be administered by Junior Achievement of B.C.

Said Jan Bell-Irving, president of JABC:   “We believe in the power and potential of today’s youth. Our programs offer students the opportunity to acquire valuable business acumen, develop leadership qualities and discover new career possibilities.

“With these kinds of skills and tools, our youth will be better prepared to face the challenges ahead with confidence in themselves and in their abilities.”

Currently no JABC programs are available in Whistler.

The deadline for applications is May 23.

Applications and complete scholarship details are available through Junior Achievement at info@jabc.org or www.womensenterprise.ca/youth