Okanagan College Health Care Assistant Program (photo credit; Okanagan College)

By Kevin Rothwell

Support for trades and health care assistant

Tekmar founders gift Okanagan College programs

Mar 30, 2021 | 12:29 PM

A new awards fund at Okanagan College will more than double the value of annual support available for students attending the Vernon campus.

Kurt and Jutta Knuever have donated $210,000 to create the ‘K&J Knuever Legacy Awards’, which will provide up to $70,000 annually in tuition and living support to students entering trades programs or the Health Care Assistant program over the next three years.

“This donation has a significant impact on our campus and for our community,” Jane Lister, Okanagan College Regional Dean, North Okanagan said. “The Knuevers are not only helping students but responding to our community’s labour needs.”

Lister adds that with the opening of the new Trades Training Centre several years ago, the Vernon campus now offers many more trades program options. The student awards will provide greater access to these programs, allowing more people who are interested in pursuing a trade the opportunity to go back to school.

Adding to this, prior to the Knuever’s funding, there were very few awards to support students entering the Health Care Assistant program, a profession that’s in-high demand and under increased strain as a result of COVID-19.

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“Between the high costs of living and paying for school, these awards will make an incredible difference,” Lister said. “Many people rely on funding from our student awards to be able to attend their programs,” she says, adding this support can “make it or break it” for students.

Doug Dolanz received a bursary from the Knuevers when taking the Electrical Apprenticeship program. At 59, he was a mature student in the program after taking an early retirement from an IT job three years earlier.

“Those bursaries help every student, no matter what stage of life you’re in,” Dolanz said. “It helped pay for my education along with tools and clothing.” In the future, Dolanz hopes to start an electrical business with his son.

Kurt and Jutta Knuever are the former owners of Tekmar Control Systems, which they cofounded in 1980. The company was sold to Watts Water Technologies in 2012. The family still resides in Vernon.