This award is presented to a student who has completed one full year or more in Associate of Science or Engineering. The recipient will be a continuing student at Selkirk College or the University of British Columbia.
Diane Phillips Memorial Scholarship
Diane Phillips was born at Trail, BC on September 20, 1955. She attended Sunningdale Elementary in Trail and John Wilson Elementary in Oakville, Ontario. Returning to Trail in 1968, she attended Trail Junior High and the JL Crowe High School.
Diane enrolled in the University Transfer Program at Selkirk College in 1972 and graduated in 1974 with a Diploma in Arts and Science. In the fall of 1974, Diane entered the Applied Science program at UBC, with the goal of a degree in Chemical Engineering.
Diane was an excellent and enthusiastic student with a passion for reading and learning. On graduation from JL Crowe in 1972, she was awarded Cominco and IODE scholarships. Her first year at Selkirk she received the Kootenay Soft Drink Scholarship and Biology Department Scholarship and a Government of BC Scholastic Award. In 1974, she received the KSCU and the Trail University Women’s Club Scholarships. She was named to the Dean’s list of Distinguished Students both years. Diane had the second highest GPA of a student graduating from Selkirk College in 1974. Diane very much enjoyed her time at Selkirk and is still remembered by many of her instructors at the College.
In the summer of 1973, Diane was employed by the BC Ministry of Health in an investigation of the incident of trichinosis in mice and other small rodents. Although the necessary trapping of the rodents offended her love for animals, she diligently carried out the study and in the process became with many back roads in the West Kootenay/Boundary area. The study proved that some rodents were infected with trichinosis.
Summer employment in 1974 was with Cominco as a painter’s helper and in the Parks and Gardens crew. She was one of the first female summer students hired by Cominco for these traditionally male jobs. This exemplifies Diane’s spirit and courage to challenge the conventional, which also showed in her choice of Engineering as a professional goal.
Diane loved the outdoors and nature and had a special interest in botany. She enjoyed skiing at Red Mountain, swimming, boating and water skiing during summer holidays at Christina Lake, as well as hiking, biking and camping. Pets were always important to her: both the family cats and dogs, and her own hamsters. She even kept a hamster at dorm at UBC.
Her interest in all the sciences was balanced by an artistic side. She studied ballet, loved music, played the guitar, and showed a talent for painting. A fire prevention poster paitned at school won prizes at the provincial, national, and international levels. She designed and painted original room and table decorations and cards for family birthdays. Diane was very creative with a special talent for problem solving – she could often be hear to exclaim “I just had a brain wave!”
On February 19, 1975 returning to Vancouver after spring break, the car she was a passenger in was involved in an accident near Midway. Diane died on the way to the hospital as a result of injuries sustained in the crash.
Diane will always be remembered by her family and friends for creative spirit, love of life, concern for the environment, sense of humour, her commitment to every challenge encountered and her undying support for the people in her life.
The Diane Phillips Memorial Scholarship Fund was established by friends and family in 1975. Selkirk College was chosen as the location for this award because Diane so enjoyed her two year there, and in appreciation for the College’s part in Diane’s intellectual growth and maturity which occurred during that time. The scholarship was first awarded in December 1975 and yearly since then.