The Karan Barker Scholarship is named for Karan Barker, a 25-year RAHB employee and former executive officer. Karan was an outstanding executive officer, and won both the Tony Kafun Award from OREA and the W. Frank Johns Award from CREA in recognition of her contributions to her real estate association and the real estate profession.
Scholarships are presented annually to students who are children or grandchildren of RAHB members or Association staff. They students are attending or will be attending university or college. They must demonstrate academic excellence and a high level of involvement in school and/or their community.
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This year, $2,000 scholarships were presented to four students. Scholarship Task Force chair Jamie Edwards made the presentations at the recent Annual Election Meeting.
(l-r): Liane Varga (mother of Emily Varga); Thomas Antony; Jamie Edwards; and Kayla Della-Nebbia; Christina Lee was unable to attend.
Thomas Antony is the son of Saji Antony of Royal LePage State Realty. He is a graduate of Cardinal Newman Catholic Secondary School and is now attending McMaster University in the Nursing program. His goal is to eventually become a Certified Registered Nurse Anaesthetist and practice in foreign countries.
While in high school, Thomas made a point of participating in his school and community. He participated in the Pilgrimage Walk, was a member of Run for Their Lives, the chess club, track and field team and the concert band. He volunteered at St. Joseph’s hospital as well as Pine Villa and Clarion nursing homes and the Saltfleet Public Library. He was a member of the Hamilton Malayalam Samajam Youth Committee, for which he organized annual summer camps and fundraisers.
Kayla Della-Nebbia is the daughter of Kathy Della-Nebbia of Royal LePage State Realty. Kayla is a graduate of Bishop Ryan Catholic Secondary School and is now studying the Humanities at McMaster University. While she isn’t sure yet what she will major in, Kayla would ultimately like to be an entrepreneur and open her own business in Hamilton some day.
In high school, Kayla played on the volleyball, badminton and track teams, and was on the music council, student council and stage crew, plus was in the band and choir. She was on the Honour Roll each year she was in secondary school.
Christina Lee is the daughter of Leslie Lee of Chase Realty. Christina is a graduate of Delhi District Secondary School and the University of Toronto, and she is now pursuing her Master of Arts degree in French linguistics. After that, the plan is to earn her Master of Teaching degree with a focus on French as a second language so she can teach; her long-term goal is to improve Canada’s bilingualism.
Christina says that extracurricular life is essential to a healthy academic career. At the University of Toronto, she participated in theatre and other community groups, served as artistic director in the Drama Society, and helped shape the University of Toronto Drama Coalition which fosters better cooperation among the nine theatre producing groups on campus. She also organized the Drama Coalition Awards, which recognizes the students involved in campus theatre. She was active in all areas of theatre on campus.
Emily Varga is the granddaughter of Erna Willem of Royal LePage State Realty. Emily graduated from Holy Trinity Catholic High School and is now attending Queen’s University in her second year of Engineering. She hopes to earn her bio-chemical engineering degree and work in pharmaceuticals to develop new natural medicines to help cure common diseases and illnesses.
When she began university, Emily was determined to be involved in her new school community, and served as the First Year Conference logistics coordinator for the Engineering Society, Welcome Week leader and manager of First Year Project coordinators. She also served as an Engineering Society Fix ‘n’ Clean volunteer and open house tour guide. She played intramural inner tube water polo and volleyball.
To date, including this year, RAHB has awarded $76,500 to 60 students.