Past Program (2008-2017)
The Alternative School Grant Program provides grants to successful applicants from Greater Vancouver Alternative School Programs.
Grants are designed to help students continue their education or enroll in a training program upon graduation. Candidates are selected based on STAND criteria and upon the advice of the school administrators (teachers, counsellors, principal).
From STAND’s inception in 2008 to 2017 we have distributed grants averaging $3000 per student. Over 100 students have received these grants.
Examples of funded programs:
| Carpentry | Plumbing Foundation Program |
| Culinary | Certificate in Piping Foundation |
| Hairdressing | Software Systems Program |
| Automotive Service Technician | Criminal Justice Diploma |
| Welding Program | Occupational First Aid (Level 3) |
| Game development and Design | Dental Hygiene program |
| Law Enforcement Studies | Financial Management |
| Bachelor of Science | Massage Therapy |
| Hospitality Management Program | Nursing program |
| Legal assistant | Medical Office Assistant |
| Eletcrical Foundation certificate | Community Support & Outreach |
| Computer science diploma | Mortgage brokering |
| Careprovider certificate | Commercial Transport |
| Family Community Counselling | Automotive Collision Repair Diploma |
| Stagecraft & Event Technician | Bachelor of Commerce |
| Admin Assistant certificate | Aboriginal Studies |
"We make sure that not only are students provided with the education they are lacking, but also provide them with the encouragement and support to help them discover what they are passionate about and how they can reach those goals," says Susan Downing (Former Head teacher, Pinnacle Alternative School Program).
"Many of our students come from a background of neglect, abuse and broken families. We believe that nurturing our students comes first. We need to teach these students that people care about them and what they do with their lives; only then can we begin to provide them with the education they need to be successful."
"STAND has been amazing in their support. We've been fortunate enough that they have never said no to us when we've approached them with a funding request," she says. "STAND has been essential in providing funding when we've exhausted every other avenue."
To date, grants have been awarded for students from the following institutions:
- Pinnacle program (Templeton Secondary)
- Spectrum program (Van Tech Secondary School)
- Total Education program (Eric Hamber Secondary)
- Tupper Young Parents Program (Sir Charles Tupper Secondary School)
- Kiwassa Education Program
- Vancouver Technical Secondary School
- North Vancouver Learning Centre
- Terry Fox Secondary School
- A number of grants have also been awarded to students from outside the Lower Mainland such as Kitimat City High and Princeton Alternate School.