During her time at Bow Valley College, international student Sarah Manangan saw how support - both financially from a scholarship, as well as from her community of educators and peers – had a positive impact on her road to success. Now she’s looking forward to her chance to give back.

In 2022, Sarah was the recipient of the $2000 Bow Valley College Continuing Education Student Entrance Scholarship. She’s grateful to the donor who funded the award, which she says boosted her self-esteem and helped her realize there were others rooting for her.

“The award meant a lot to me at that time. I felt if somebody believes in me, it’s all going to be worth it,” she says. “It was very generous of them [the donor] to think about students like me who are looking for encouragement as they pursue their education.”

Now Sarah is looking forward to her chance to pay forward to the College community the same generosity she received. She had pledged a gift of $500 per year for three years in hopes other students feel the same encouragement and support she did during her time at the College.

“I want to help the bigger community. Giving back is something I believe does make an impact,” she says.

As a medical billing officer in the Philippines with a nursing background, Sarah met a representative from the College at a conference who suggested she consider the Health and Human Services Management Post-Diploma Program. It would align with her educational background and career goals and allow her to use her current skill set while also building on that experience in the event she wanted to work in management in the future. She already had family in Calgary and the 18-minute commute from where they lived to the College made it even more appealing.

Sarah completed the Health and Human Services program in 2022 and graduated from the Hospital Unit Clerk Certificate program this past January 2023. During her time as a student, she was determined to maximize her experience at the College and received the LEAD Academy certificate for leadership development. Sarah appreciated that she was able to make her class schedule compatible with volunteering opportunities, such as with Meals on Wheels, the ICan Crew, and as a public speaker with the Intercultural Centre.

To those considering Bow Valley College for their education, Sarah says, “It’s the best idea they will ever choose to continue their education; the support groups, the inclusivity, the diversity, as well as all the training and workshops they offer – it’s a great way to maximize your time at Bow Valley College and everything it has to offer.”

Sarah currently works as a unit clerk for the Brenda Stafford Foundation, who were impressed by her involvement in the College and her efforts to make it and the surrounding community a better place. Sarah is grateful for continued support from the College post-graduation and for the efforts made to show students, both past and present, that they care about their success.

If you would like to become a donor like Sarah, and have a tangible impact on students like her, consider making a gift this Giving Day. Each gift to the BVC Fund will be matched up to $100 and a gift made to any other fund will be matched dollar for dollar (up to $25,000).