When Don and Alice McLaughlin created a bursary in memory of Don’s parents, Archie and Dorothy McLaughlin, they hoped it would open doors for young people from the community that had meant so much to their family.
Raised in Clinton ( a Grade One to 12 grad), Don grew up surrounded by his parents’ example of service. Archie was a dedicated school trustee who believed deeply in the value of education. Dorothy was a pillar of the community, volunteering in many roles throughout her life and earning recognition as Clinton’s Citizen of the Year.
Together, they showed their family that a strong community is built by people who give their time, share their knowledge, and create opportunities for others.
The Archie and Dorothy McLaughlin Memorial Bursary Fund carries those values forward. Established by Don and Alice through BC Interior Community Foundation, the fund supports graduating students from David Stoddart School who plan to continue their education in the trades or sciences.
When the bursary was created, Don wondered whether there would always be enough students who met the criteria. This year, he received a wonderful answer: not one, but two deserving students qualified.
Mattie Miller and Bailey Annett were presented with their bursaries by BCICF board member Terri Mochikas during the school’s graduation ceremony. More than 100 people attended, filling the room with an extraordinary sense of community spirit and pride. It felt as though the whole town had gathered to celebrate its young people and the possibilities ahead of them.
For Mattie and Bailey, the bursaries will help ease the financial pressure of pursuing post-secondary education. For Don and Alice, the moment was a reminder that Archie and Dorothy’s influence continues to be felt in the community they loved.
Their legacy now lives on in a new generation of Clinton students – young people preparing to build their own futures and, perhaps one day, give back to their community in ways of their own.