In the process of furthering their education, two Rimbey-area sisters have received a financial boost from a service club.
The Kitchener #95 branch of the Masons awarded Chantel Went and her sister Jeanine Went each a $2,000 bursary to go towards the girls’ continuing education.
Both young women are grateful to receive the funding that will help them achieve their educational goals.
Eighteen-year-old Chantel, who is attending Medicine Hat College, received the bursary last year as well.
The teen is studying sports massage therapy at college and is also on the basketball team.
During the summer she is coaching basketball at NBC camps in Edmonton, Olds and Calgary. She has also coached at a private camp in Stony Plain. The young athlete player plans to participate in a basketball game in Stony Plain Aug. 19 to 24. The game is to be the longest basketball game ever played in the world. It is to be 118 hours long and three teams will participate with players taking two-hour shifts.
“It’s going to be ridiculous,” she said, smiling, adding the players are hoping it will go into the Guinness Book of Records. Proceeds from the game are to go to Operation Amigo.
Jeanine Went, 22, has received a science degree from the University of Lethbridge and is planning on obtaining her education degree from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, B.C.
For the third consecutive summer, she has worked at the Rimbey Public Library, a job she continues to enjoy. “I love the kids. It’s great to see them grow.”
Jeanine said the money from the Masons has helped both her and her sister pursue their career goals. “It definitely helps a lot.”
She said their parents taught them both to pursue a career they loved.
“They always encouraged us to do what we loved and this funding has certainly helped both of us to do that.”
Jeanine has received the Masons bursary four times.