J. Wesley Parkinson Memorial Scholarships in Education

These scholarships are awarded to two students entering the Masters in Education Program at UPEI who are mature students that have been away from post-secondary education for at least five years and have demonstrated community service and volunteerism. The scholarships were established by Jill Parkinson, BA (UPEI Class of '84) and Cynthia Blanchard of Ottawa, Ontario in memory of Jill's father, J. Wesley (Wes) Parkinson. Wes loved his community, worked tirelessly in many areas of volunteerism and service, and never tired of learning. Following his retirement from the Sun Life Assurance Company as Vice President Finance, Wes consistently registered in courses at the University of Prince Edward Island and was a Centennial Scholar, a program for seniors at UPEI who understood the importance of continuing education. These two scholarships, valued at approximately $2,000 each (currently $1,700), are given annually as a tribute to Mr. Parkinson's impact on his family and community, and to his belief and commitment to life-long learning. Recognizing the importance of education, Wes served as Chairman of the South Shore Protestant Regional School Board in St. Lambert, Quebec prior to his retirement.