KW Legacy, a local educational charity, is handing out 19 scholarships to students at 11 local schools totaling $147,000 to end the school year.

That includes handing out the first $50,000 scholarship to a local student in partnership with Sobey’s and St. Mary’s University in Halifax.

The winner of the Sobey’s Scholarship was Mikayla Sloat, a Grade 12 student at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, who will be studying Commerce at the Halifax school this September.

“We are so pleased to help out these future community leaders in Waterloo Region,” said Peter Kalbfleisch, Chair of KW Legacy’s 2025 Scholarship Committee. “These students emulate the core values of KW Legacy – service to the community and improving the lives of others through leadership.”

Alia Lloyd, 17, a Grade 12 student graduating from Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School was one of the winners of the $5,000 scholarships that KW Legacy hands out each year.

“I was in public (at the store) when I got the call from my mom I had received the scholarship,” said Lloyd. “I let out a squeal of joy that quickly turned into happy tears, which drew quite a few stares from customers and staff.

“I ended up leaving the store to celebrate in the car with my brother. It was a moment of pure emotion knowing that I was walking down the path of my dreams. It’s a moment I will never forget.”