by Rod Escobar Cantiveros
Wandaly Gonzales looks forward for her university study, thanks to the Maricel Lisan Memorial Scholarship Award, initiated by Alexandra Dela Cruz, Maricel’s sister-in-law.
At the annual school convocation held recently at the Centennial Concert Hall, the Maples Collegiate awarded the $1,000 cash award to Wandaly Gonzales, 18, and a Garden City resident, who will be pursuing business education at the Asper School of Business this coming September. Gonzales also won the $500 scholarship from CUPE 949.
“This scholarship would help pay for my tuition fees as I enter Asper Business School. It would be a great help in assisting with my financial needs, considering how expensive the university education is,” said Wandaly Gonzales. “I’m grateful for the opportunity given and I think starting the memorial scholarship is a great way to honour and remember Maricel Lisan’s memory,” she added.
The celebration of the life of Maricel Lisan, also a graduate at the Maples Collegiate in 2000 who passed away in 2010 at the age of 29 of end-stage renal disease, began when Alexzandra Dela Cruz thought of a wonderful move to memoralize the trying but a wonderful life of Maricel.
“My husband’s been sick too. He’s in remission. They (Michael and Maricel) were both in the same hospital the last month when she was ill. They were two floors away,” Dela Cruz said. “It was traumatic for myself, Maricel’s parents (Reynaldo and Florence Lisan), eldest daughter Myla Fajardo and Maricel’s partner, Mark Beitz, since both Michael and Maricel were in the hospital at the same time. My drive to start this scholarship was based on the experience we all had to face at that time. As well, losing a child is devastating, I cannot replace Maricel for them, but only to show to her family and her friends my strength to make sure that Maricel will not be forgotten.”
Maricel was a vibrant,friendly individual who didn’t let her illness stop her doing what she wanted to do. While she was in the hospital, in the last three months before she passed away, she still managed to out on passes to to the kid’s birthday and family events.
“She was so involved, so engaged. Even if she was sick, she wanted to go out and do as much as she could,” Dela Cruz said.
An inspiration to others, Alexzandra Dela Cruz initiated the Maricel Lisan Memorial Scholarship Award, and through the help of the Lisa family, siblings, relatives and friends, they were able to raise almost $3,000 from a huge May Long Weekend garage sale held at her residence in Amber Trails.
“Maricel was so well-liked, raising money and support for the scholarship would not be a problem,” Dela Cruz said.
Seven Oaks Education Foundation of the Seven Oaks School Division provided the initial fund. As well, cash donations were received from Japan and Vancouver, and within Manitoba. Unsold items would be donated to Centre Flavie-Laurent in St. Boniface which distributes furniture, appliances and other household items to the people in need.
“The Maricel Lisan Memorial Scholarship Award was conceived to find peace, comfort, fulfillment and satisfaction by helping a deserving graduating high school student at the Maples Collegiate in the Seven Oaks School Division. This is an act of kindness and generosity from the Lisan family,” said Ms. Socorro Juan, member of Board of Trustee, Seven Oaks School Division.
“This scholarship will be an annual event to continue the legacy of my sister-in-law, to give back something to the Filipino community and to inspire our younger generation the value of education, and the true meanings of giving and sharing,” Dela Cruz said.
