Top of the Class: Catholic grads earn scholarships to pursue post-secondary dreams this fall

As students return to school, two students from Vancouver Catholic schools will be starting post-graduate studies with the help of scholarships they earned in their graduate year.

Christel Mazzek, the founder of St. John Brebeuf Secondary’s Open Studio art community in Abbotsford, and St. John Paul II Academy graduate Elyse Kargl have each been recognized with significant scholarships that will support their post-secondary pursuits.

Christel was honoured with three scholarships for her outstanding volunteer work and academic achievement. Her passion for service and creativity has made a lasting impact on her community, from supporting the Abbotsford Arts Council to helping with the Vancouver Kindness Movement. Her initiative to keep classmates connected through art during the pandemic grew into a vibrant community of over 35 members. This commitment to her community, combined with her academic excellence, earned her the prestigious Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, which covers up to $28,000 over four years.

She also won the Trevor Linden Community Spirit Scholarship, which awards $2,500, and a B.C. Beedie Luminaries Scholarship, which awards up to $44,000 per recipient.

SJB academic counsellor Dan Fraser praised Christel’s accomplishments as extraordinary. “Winning three major awards like this is an exceptional achievement. This is well-deserved recognition for the impressive service work that Christel has done for the community,” he said.

The Open Studio group, which started in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, provided a creative outlet for students feeling disconnected. With the support of art teacher Jacqueline Lindenbach, Christel and a friend designed take-home art projects that allowed students to create, share their work, and stay connected. The group has since grown to over 35 members and continues to thrive.

Reflecting on her time at SJB, Christel expressed immense gratitude for her teachers and the community. “The halls of the school are filled with compassionate role models and mentors, whose influence has shaped me significantly,” she said. This fall, Christel will be studying science at UBC.

Meanwhile, Elyse Kargl, a graduate of St. John Paul II Academy in Surrey, will pursue her nursing dream this fall with a $45,000 scholarship from the Cmolik Foundation. Elyse will be attending Trinity Western University, supported by the $45,000 scholarship. The scholarship recognizes students who have overcome significant challenges in their lives, and Elyse’s perseverance and dedication impressed the selection committee. The scholarship will help her achieve her lifelong dream of making a difference in the lives of others through nursing.

Elyse said she has dreamed of nursing since she was young and is excited about the opportunity. “Since the age of 11, I have been determined to pursue a career in nursing to make a difference in the lives of others,” she said.  

Beyond financial support, the scholarship offers access to mentorship, a supportive network of peers and alumni, and exclusive events and professional opportunities to help ensure her success in post-secondary education.

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