Legacy lives on: Jim Stokley Scholarships awarded

A scholarship established in memory of the late businessman and Bayfest co-founder Jim Stokley has paid dividends for two local students.

A scholarship established in memory of the late businessman and Bayfest co-founder Jim Stokley has paid dividends for two local students.

Amanda Griffith, 30, and Amanda Graham, 18, both of Sarnia, each received $2,900 to further their education at Lambton College.

In just five years the Stokley scholarship has grown into a $500,000 pool of capital held by the college, with the interest supporting worthy students.

“I think it’s amazing,” said Stokley’s widow Michele Stokley.

“We’ve fundraised the money and it’s now one of Lambton College’s largest scholarships. And most of the winners stay in the area.”

Applicants are judged largely on community involvement (60%) and financial need and academic performance (20% each).

Griffith attends the Chemical Production and Power Engineering Technology Program with plans of becoming a process operator.

She led a group that created a financial literacy program for the Women’s Interval Home that’s now used in its recovery program.

She is also president of the Lambton College Power Engineers, which has created its own scholarship for tech students.

Graham is entering her first year at Lambton’s social service workers program.

As Coxswain (leader) of the local Sea Cadet Corp she’s active in numerous community events and has been volunteering from the age of five.

– Journal Staff