Editor's note: This is the eighth in a year-long series of stories about people who were raised on the Sunshine Coast who are making a successful mark in the world of their chosen vocations. Some are residents of the Coast while others have left to pursue their dreams.
This year, for the first time, a $1,600 scholarship to the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) created exclusively for a Sunshine Coast student has been awarded. The Sunshine Coast Trade and Technology Entrance Award was given to Jessica Wheater this fall.
Wheater, who has lived on the Coast for the past four years, is studying architectural and building engineering technology.
"Ever since I was young, I have always had a passion for the building industry. I don't come from a background with engineering; however, this only fuelled my desire to know more. I learned early on that the possibilities are endless, and that this is something I am prepared and willing to spend the rest of my life pursuing," Wheater said in an email interview.
She came to the Sunshine Coast at the age of 14. However, in order to continue her education in a Catholic school, she commuted to St. Thomas Aquinas in North Vancouver where she graduated in 2010.
Wheater found the scholarship on the BCIT website when she was applying to her program. She found she was eligible to apply and sent in an application.
One of the guiding lights behind the scholarship, Coast engineer Mike Bakst, is pleased that the award has finally had a taker.
The award was established in 2007 by a group of professionals on the Sunshine Coast to combat what Bakst calls a "huge deficit of technically trained people" including engineers, plumbers, bricklayers and welders to name but a few.
Growing up in Soviet Russia, Bakst's first desire was to be a journalist, but he soon learned that wasn't a desirable craft in his country. He decided instead to follow in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and became an engineer. After coming to Canada along with his wife and son with little more than the clothes on their backs, Bakst worked in drafting until his English improved enough to allow him to work as a civil engineer.
He spearheaded the award at BCIT because of the standard of their programs. Wheater shares his admiration for the school.
"BCIT provides a well-rounded curriculum that provides students with the skills necessary to enter the work force. My schedule consists of eight courses, ranging from physics and building structures, to materials for building, to computerized (CADD) and manual drafting," she explained.
She has some simple advice for girls who want to study in math and/or science fields.
"CDP commitment, determination and perseverance. This is something Michael Bakst taught me and has inspired me to pursue my dreams. It'll never be easy, but you always have to believe in yourself and put your best foot forward. But most of all never give up!" she advised.
Wheater said she has always been inspired by her surroundings; from the mountains and forests she has hiked, especially on the Sunshine Coast, to the building and architecture she has experienced around the world.
"All these experiences have influenced the way I perceive the world and especially how I express it on paper. I aspire to create new design concepts that challenge how modern day construction is executed as well as cater to every individual's needs. I want to positively impact people's lives and find ways to incorporate environmentally sound products into my practice. Architecture has been a major part of my life, and it will continue to shape and form my life in the many years to come," Wheater stated.
