​BC Transplant awards $1,500 scholarships each year to students in Grades 10 to 12 who develop projects that encourage conversations about organ donation and transplantation. The program includes three individual scholarships and one team scholarship for students who work together on awareness initiatives.

This year, five students were recognized through the scholarship program: Hasti Salemi, Muskaan Chandi, Tejas Thind, Andrea Ng and Sophia Lee. Through school events, community outreach, educational campaigns and peer engagement, the students found creative ways to encourage discussions about organ donation across British Columbia.

The scholarship program aims to empower young people to become advocates for organ donation awareness. By educating their peers and communities, recipients help increase understanding about the importance of organ donation and the impact it can have on patients and families waiting for a transplant.

Hasti focused her project on engaging members of her church community through a series of events and conversations about organ donation. Her efforts created opportunities for community members to ask questions and learn more about a topic that is not often openly discussed.

              

​Hasti reflected on what she learned about creating awareness from her campaign, “Despite meeting some resistance to the topic of organ donation and transplant, slowly people started stopping by, and conversations became deeper and more personal. I learned that awareness is not created by forcing opinions on people; it is created through empathy, patience, trust, and honest conversations.”​

In addition to her community outreach, Hasti organized awareness initiatives at her school and established an organ donation awareness club to continue the conversation beyond her scholarship project. Throughout the process, she worked closely with BC Transplant to ensure the information she shared was accurate and up to date.

As an athlete, Muskaan recognized the profound impact of organ donation and transplant, “When I step onto the court, I never have to question whether my heart will endure, or my lungs will carry me through. However, for someone waiting for an organ transplant, each moment is spent in constant uncertainty. Their greatest goal is no longer a medal or a personal best, but simply the chance to live again. For me, organ donation is more than merely a medical procedure. It is hope.” This connection inspired her to take action.

Muskaan created an educational scrapbook featuring facts, stories and information about organ donation and transplantation, which she shared at events within her school and community.

She also participated in the Surrey Step Up event and organized a Green Shirt Day campaign at her school. As part of the initiative, she distributed green ribbons and spoke with fellow students about the significance of Green Shirt Day and the importance of organ donation awareness.

Tejas focused her project on raising awareness about organ donation and transplantation within the South Asian community. She attended events at temples, community gatherings and local parks, engaging community members in conversations about donation and transplant.

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"I realized how deeply donation influenced families, which changed my perspective and helped me see organ donation as much more than a medical procedure, but rather as a lifeline that restores hope and possibility when people need it most," says Tejas. "That realization motivated me to raise awareness in my own community and encourage others to register as organ donors."

Andrea and Sophia received the team scholarship for their Green Cupcake Initiative and Green Shirt Day activities, which promoted organ donation awareness within their school and community.

 

   

As part of their campaign, Andrea and Sophia invited Joanne, a liver transplant recipient and BC Transplant volunteer, to share her experience with students. The​y also welcomed Cassandra Lau, a recipient of the 2022/2023 "Live Life. Pass It On." Scholarship, to speak about her awareness work and participate in Green Shirt Day activities.

Applications for the 2026/2027 "Live Life. Pass It On." Scholarship Program will open later this year. Students entering Grades 10 to 12 are eligible to apply, with applications due each April. More information will be available on the scholarship page.