CALGARY - Local donors and business leaders joined Premier Alison Redford, Sharon Carry, President and CEO of Bow Valley College, and Joanne Stalinski, Chair, Bow Valley College Board of Governors, at the Calgary Petroleum Club for the 19th annual Premier's Scholarship Luncheon.

Premier Alison Redford paid tribute to this year's award recipients, wishing them well as they continue to pursue their passions. Speaking from the heart, Premier Redford recalled meeting a student at last year's luncheon and spoke of her admiration for how that student fought against the odds to improve her life through determination, hard work, and courses at Bow Valley College. Premier Redford noted that the student was a great example for others because she went on to complete an engineering degree and in so doing has improved her life, as well as her teenage daughter's life.

Premier Redford also praised Bow Valley College's collaborative learning environment for helping many students to transition from high school, to college certificates and diplomas, and university degrees. "Bow Valley College is an essential element in Campus Alberta, providing students with a wide range of learning options and disciplines. Graduates are flexible, resilient and able to meet our province's diverse economic needs. The Alberta of the future will need engineers, artists, doctors and tradespeople. It's wonderful to know the students of today are gaining the skills and knowledge necessary to keep our province strong tomorrow."

The Premier's Scholarship Luncheon is a major fundraiser for scholarships at the College and over the past 19 years has helped Bow Valley College students with reaching their academic, career, and life goals. In this time, through matching grants from the Alberta government, the Premiers Scholarship Luncheon has raised more than $1 million, in addition to changing many lives. This year's luncheon raised $72,715.00 and through the generous support of anonymous donors, all contributions were matched for a grand total of $145,430.00.

Sharon Carry, President and CEO of Bow Valley College, thanked Premier Redford for the: "Leadership and support that has allowed our College to embrace our vision." Carry also thanked Bow Valley's many friends in the community who have financially supported our work and our students. "Together, we will continue to focus on innovative and effective learning solutions that work for Albertans. As we say at Bow Valley College - those who come to us can: Learn a Better Living and Live a Better Life."

To qualify for the Premier's Scholarship, students had to display academic excellence, qualities of citizenship, and financial need. The 2013 recipients of the Premier's Scholarship are:

• Sylvia Ancayan, English Language Learning, Centre for Excellence in Immigrant & Intercultural Advancement
• Jalaludin Bahudin, English Language Learning, Centre for Excellence in Immigrant & Intercultural Advancement
• Farhiya Haruun, High School Upgrading, Centre for Excellence in Foundational Learning
• Elizabeth Howell; Business Administration Diploma, Accounting Specialization; School of Business
• Pamela Johnson; Practical Nurse Diploma; School of Health, Justice, and Human Services
• Gurpreet Punia, Academic Upgrading, Centre for Excellence in Foundational Learning
• Kimberly Ray, Interior Decorating Diploma, School of Business
• Alicea Simpson; Practical Nurse Diploma; School of Health, Justice, and Human Services

Bow Valley College helps learners reach their goals at our Calgary campus and at locations throughout southern Alberta. For more information on Bow Valley's donor programs visit: bowvalleycollege.ca/giving

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Bow Valley College - Calgary and region's only Comprehensive Community College - with more than 12,500 full- and part-time students, is a leader in business, health, justice, and human services career training, adult upgrading, and English as a Second Language. BVC's Test of Workplace Essential Skills (TOWES), workplace training for immigrant professionals, and employment services provide a wide range of services for businesses and professionals. Established in 1965, Bow Valley College is in the midst of a multi-million dollar expansion, creating state-of-the-art facilities and doubling its student capacity by 2013.