With the Cow Pattie Theatre Company having to cancel their performance this year due to the pandemic, Marie and Rudy Kiist turned to social media to announce the winners of their annual bursary in honour of their late son Sawyer, who was an actor at Cow Pattie before his tragic death in a car accident in March of 2017.

Since then, Marie and Rudy have picked a few young adults between 16 and 24 to receive the Sawyer Kiist Passion for Life Bursary in honour of their son, to help them pursue their dreams.

Rudy says normally they pick out the winners at the final performance of the season for the Cow Pattie Theatre, but since that was cancelled this year, they had to do it in a less formal manner.

“We had narrowed it down to eight people which was very very difficult. We had lots of applicants. Once we got down to the eight we really just couldn’t think of any other way to reduce it any further right? So we decided to spread out the $4,000 between the eight people instead of our original plan of four.”

He says how the applicants perform in school has little impact on their decision.

“One of the big things we’re actually looking at is, it’s not like a scholarship where we are looking at grades and whatnot, it’s more who they are, their personalities and their interests.”

Kiist says they are planning to have a BBQ meet and greet at their farm once the provincial health restrictions are lifted, so they can meet the winners in person.

Here is a list of the winners. Information provided by Marie and Rudy Kiist.

  • Adam Howard of Lacombe/Edmonton. He is an aspiring young musician who writes his own music and is trying to make a living being a musician. He is trying his hand at the Edmonton music scene and also comes back home to do local gigs as well. 
  • Chloe Kikstra of Lacombe/Edmonton. She is in her 15th year of dancing. She started at Dancer's Edge Studio in Lacombe for most of her dancing and went on to the Vimy Ridge Academy in Edmonton also with the Edmonton School of Ballet. She continues to spend weekends at home and at her part-time job in Lacombe. 
  • Kianna Krall of Lacombe. She is 18 years old from Lacombe and finished a year at the Alberta University of Arts in Calgary. She is pursuing a career in graphic design, photography and glass blowing. 
  • Julz Labrash of Red Deer. She is 18 years old and is graduating from Lindsay Thurber this year. She is an aspiring filmmaker, artist and performer. She recently got accepted in to UBC where she can take many film classes and also explore new skills and interests. 
  • Zoe McCormick of Ponoka. She is a well-rounded individual who studies violin and voice at Burman University. She is also active in drama, sports and coaching. Her goal is to pursue a Master's in Vocal Performance at Jacob's School of Music in Indiana. 
  • Zareen Nishat of Red Deer. She is 17 and a senior at Lindsay Thurber Composite High School. She is very much into volunteerism and has accumulated many hours at the Red Deer hospital. She will be going to Edmonton in the fall. She will use the money to offset her school costs to allow her time to volunteer while going to school.
  • Ziara Ruchkall of Red Deer. She is 17 and a senior at Lindsay Thurber Composite High School. She is very much into music, being in 2 choirs and 2 bands, does volunteer work and is extremely passionate about teaching sex education and making it accessible for all.  
  • Delane White of Red Deer. She is a senior at Lindsay Thurber Composite High School. She is wanting to be an Interior Designer. She enjoys the arts as will as photography and pottery. She will be going to the Center for Arts and Technology in Kelowna, BC.