A student at Samuel Robertson Technical Secondary School is in the running for a prestigious national scholar award.
Cole Blakeway was one of 15 students in the province selected as a finalist for the 2025 Loran Awards.
A total of 90 finalists were selected from across the country, who are among the top 1.5 percent of applicants from the original pool of more than 6,000.
Blakeway said he got the phone call at his girlfriend's house when he received the call about being a finalist.
"She actually filmed my reaction to the phone call," he chuckled.
"It was crazy," he said. "Very surreal."
He explained that the initial application he filled out was huge and he basically had to share his whole life story.
Blakeway shared in his application that at the age of 10 he gave a TED Talk about his best friend who has autism that went viral and had about six million views online.
Another experience he shared was his work with Project HELLO, a project started by his mother Kristi Blakeway, who used to be an educator in the Maple Ridge Pitt Meadows School District. Through Project HELLO, students would travel to the Downtown East Side of Vancouver and help the homeless get in touch with their loved ones, some of whom hadn't spoken for years, said Blakeway. Those living on the streets would write letters in handmade cards the group of students would bring with them, before they were sent off by mail.
He has also done a lot of work raising awareness about Truth and Reconciliation within his school through presentations.
According to the Loran Scholars Foundation, Loran Finalists for the class of 2025 have demonstrated exceptional strength of character, a deep commitment to service, and exceptional leadership potential.
"We believe the key to building a brighter future is empowering values-driven youth ready to embrace the challenge of leaving the world better than they found it. The Loran Award, the only award of its kind in Canada, does just that," said the foundation.
Loran Scholars benefit from a four-year leadership enrichment program including: summer work experiences, one-on-one mentorship, scholar gatherings, an annual living stipend, a tuition waiver at one of 25 university partners, and a long-term community of peers, alumni, and supporters from across the country.
Loran Awards will be chosen in Toronto from Feb. 21-23, 2025.
Blakeway explained that he will be flying on Feb. 20th and interviews start on the 21st.
He said finalists will be participating in workshops, in addition to four in-person interviews. There will also be a dinner where a member of the adjudicating panel will sit with a group of students to see how they interact with one another.
Up to 36 Loran Award winners will be chosen.
"I'm nervous," he said, adding that he plans to just try to be himself.
"If I turn out to be the person they want then that's amazing. But, if I don't get it I know I've been my genuine self and I tried my best," said Blakeway.
Students not selected as Loran Scholars, will still each be eligible to receive a $6,000 Loran Finalist Award.
For more information about the Loran Awards go to: loranscholar.ca.
