Many Calgary Public Library programs are made possible by a dedicated team of volunteers. Lots of these volunteers are young students, balancing their studies and extracurriculars while also supporting the Library. To acknowledge their dedication and commitment to lifelong learning, the Library offers three scholarships annually to help support volunteers in the next chapters of their learning journeys.
The scholarships, valued at $3,500, $2,000, and $1,000, are made possible by the support of Barbara Killick, a former senior staff member at the Library who understands the positive impact volunteers make on the lives of those in their community.
The Library is grateful to all volunteers for being part of the Library’s story and choosing to make the Library part of theirs. Today we are celebrating the stories of the three Bright Futures Award winners for 2023.
Congratulations to Abigail Faye Beatrice Arellano, Eliza Siddiqui, and Chi Dinh!
Abigail Faye Beatrice Arellano ($3,500 scholarship)
Abigail Faye Beatrice Arellano loves volunteering and is committed to making a difference in others’ lives and a positive impact on her community, both through her volunteer work and her research as a Psychology major at the University of Calgary. She has been volunteering with Calgary Public Library since she was 14 years old, supporting a number of programs, including Reading Buddies, ELL School Success, and Coding Buddies.
Eliza Siddiqui ($2,000 scholarship)
A self-described introvert, libraries have always filled Eliza Siddiqui with a certain joy and sense of security. She got her first Library card at age five — one she still carries with her to this day! Eliza has been volunteering with the Library since 2018 with programs like Reading Buddies, Creative Writing Club, Code Club, MathQuest, and other programs for youth. Eliza credits the Library for helping bring her out of her shell and becoming more comfortable around different people.
Chi Dinh ($1,000 scholarship)
Chi Dinh is a fourth-year Health Sciences student, longtime Library volunteer, and dedicated advocate in their communities. They have been volunteering with the Library since 2016 for programs like Reading Buddies, Make It Messy — Science, and English Conversation Group. Volunteering at the Library and in their campus community has brought them a profound sense of purpose, belonging, and fulfillment, helping to shape the person they are today.
