28th annual Premier’s Scholarship Luncheon celebrates student achievement and community impact

On October 24, 2025, Bow Valley College celebrated a milestone moment. In our 60th anniversary year, the 28th annual Premier’s Scholarship Luncheon was more than an event—it was a tribute to six decades of transforming lives and shaping Calgary’s workforce.

Established in 1994, the luncheon brings together our community to support students by removing financial barriers and inspiring future changemakers. Premier Danielle Smith, along with other government representatives, joined us to honour 11 outstanding student recipients from a variety of the College’s career-focused schools.

The Premier’s Scholarships are among the most prestigious awards offered at Bow Valley College. Recipients are selected by faculty based on academic achievement and financial need, recognizing students who demonstrate resilience, determination and a commitment to making a difference in their communities.

This year, $36,000 in awards was presented. Since its inception, the luncheon has raised more than $2 million, benefiting over 300 students—a remarkable legacy of generosity and support.

For Paulo Henrique Gomes Da Paixao, a Practical Nursing student in the School of Health and Wellness, receiving the award provided both financial support and encouragement.

“Being recognized for your efforts really motivates you and tells you that you are on the right path,” he said. “It means that it is okay to change careers in your 30s and that I can still make a difference in people’s lives.”

Since opening its doors 60 years ago, Bow Valley College has been Calgary’s college and the Government of Alberta’s partner throughout this time—a place where opportunity, inclusivity and innovation come together to create lasting impact. From our beginnings as avocational training institution, to our evolution into a career-focused college, our mission has always been to equip students with the skills and confidence needed to succeed.

This commitment is at the heart of Bow Valley College’s Strategic Plan – Launch Advance Evolve. Everything we do is designed to empower learners through high-quality, career-relevant programs and personalized support. By equipping students with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive—not just graduate—we are inspiring the leaders of tomorrow.

We continue to evolve in response to today’s economic and social needs with an understanding of our city and province. Because of this, we know that Alberta is experiencing transformative change that includes record growth, an aging population, and a reinvisioned and restructured health care system designed to meet the needs of Albertans’ today and into the future. The province will see a demand of more than 77,000 skilled health care professionals across key occupation groups over the next eight years. Armed with this information, we developed a bold vision to establish a Health Care Centre of Excellence which will directly feed into the talent pipeline that Alberta needs. Our proposed College expansion will introduce state-of-the-art classrooms, specialized labs, accredited simulation centres, and innovative teaching and learning spaces. With post-secondary graduates the main driver of workforce growth in the health sector, we will also increase graduates in health care programs from 750 to 2,500 annually by 2035.

In 2024–2025, more than 1,600 awards and bursaries were distributed to over 1,000 students, helping them pursue their education, build rewarding careers and contribute to thriving communities—both locally and globally. By investing in students today, our sponsors and donors are helping build the skilled workforce of tomorrow.

This year’s luncheon raised $150,000,including $50,000 on the event day towards growing the Premier’s Scholarship Fund, continuing a proud tradition of supporting access to education. Thanks to the generosity of our sponsors, donors and community partners, students can continue to pursue learning that empowers them to strengthen our city’s economy and shape its future.

Together, we are shaping the next generation of leaders and ensuring Bow Valley College remains a place where dreams begin and futures are built.