The Sullivan Heights Dental scholarship is awarded to a local Surrey graduating student who has strong grades in sciences and will be pursuing a post-secondary education. Each recipient receives $500 and is chosen by their school. 

We’d like to introduce you to Kevin Douglas, one of this year’s recipients of the Sullivan Heights Dental Scholarship! This is the first year that we’ve had two scholarships: one for each of our local high schools. Kevin graduated in June from Sullivan Heights Secondary School.

Dr. Himmat Bajwa chatted with Kevin about his time at school and his future plans when he recently came into our dental office.

Favourite subjects in high school?

“Definitely athletics. I’m a PE fan but I also enjoyed the sciences,” says Kevin. In his senior school years he expanded his science classes to include geology and environmental science, which are two areas that really interest him.

Most influential teacher?

Mr. Suter, who Kevin had several times throughout high school: “He taught me grade 8 PE, he was my very first teacher that I had on the very first day. Then I had him in grade 11 for my physical geography class; and then I had him in grade 12 teaching social justice.”

He was the only teacher that Kevin had three times, and each time he was great.

What activities did you pursue at school?

He started volleyball at Sullivan Heights Secondary, at the grade 8 level. His team won the championships that year and Kevin “was hooked” on the sport. Later that year he decided to play his first club season, and played through to grade 12.

“Getting that feel for competitiveness at Sullivan is what made me pursue the club play; go to Nationals, and really compete.”

Kevin’s position is middle blocker (no surprise at 6’6”). Kevin confided that he didn’t want to play volleyball at first when his family suggested it because his sister already played; but he decided he would try it when his dad said, “Just trust me.”

All this volleyball has paid off by earning him a spot on the Men’s Varsity Volleyball team at Saint Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick.

He also played soccer (since age 4) and baseball while at Sullivan.

On balancing academics with sports?

Kevin says, “It was difficult, as I’m actually a big procrastinator.” But he always found a way, often doing school work late into the evenings, in the mornings, or in-between classes.

What will you miss at high school?

Kevin says, “The thing I’m going to miss the most are my peers and my friends.” The upside of the pandemic meant that limited team sports activities gave him more time to jell and develop relationships with other students by spending more time together.

What are your plans for continuing education?

In August Kevin is driving across Canada with his family to Saint Thomas University in Fredericton, New Brunswick. It’ll take a week to get there. They’re making a vacation out of it with stops in Canadian cities along the way.

Do you have a career goal in mind?

Kevin is keeping an open mind. If he does really well in volleyball, there are opportunities for him to play in Europe with “the best of the best.” It would involve a more intense training regimen with practice five times a week and being in the gym several times a week.

Otherwise, he’s looking at the environmental science field with an eye to the future of renewable energy sources.

What are you doing this summer?

Kevin is working as a lifeguard (very early morning starts) and at Safeway.

He did a lot of training as a swim instructor two years ago before becoming a lifeguard. During the pandemic he worked at outdoor pools teaching all ages of kids how to swim.

A big congratulations to Kevin! Meet our other 2021 scholarship recipient, Serena.