Bursary named after Mexican student killed in crash

TheNova Scotia International Student Program (NSISP) has created a new bursary in memory of Sara Cecena Garcia, a 13-year-old Richmond Education Centre/Academy student who was killed in a car crash late last year.

"She was kind of a perfect student,"said PaulMillman, NSISP'sexecutive director."We met as an operations committee and said we need to do something to honour Sara."

Millman said Garcia, who wasfrom Mexico,was the third person in her family to travel to attend school in the Strait Regional School Board.

'Extremely involved' in school and community

"She was an amazing student when she was here and so to have this bursary named in her honour was absolutely appropriate," he said."She was extremely involved, both in her school and in the community."

Garcia was captain of the volleyball team.

TheSara Cecena Garcia Memorial Bursary is worth $16,000 per year and it will be awarded to a student returning to the Nova Scotia International Student Program for a second year. While the programoffers bursaries for new students, this is the only bursary for returning students.

2016-2017 recipients chosen

Recipients are students whoembodythe qualities Garcia showed during her time in Nova Scotia. Her host parents helped in the selection process.

"We had three absolutely phenomenal candidates and what we've chosen to do, instead of just doing one, is to give one full bursary and two half bursaries [worth $8,000]to three returning students from this year."

The students being awarded the bursary will get the good news later this week.

Meanwhile,an 86-year-old woman has been charged with a motor vehicle offence in relation to the crash that killed Garcia, a teacher, and another student.