$1.3 M Gift Boosts UVic STEM Pathways from Kindergarten to Climate Leaders

When Riley Friesen first looked through a telescope in high‑school, he didn’t just see stars – he saw possibilities. Fast‑forward a few years, and the same young astronomer‑physicist is now guiding K‑12 Indigenous learners across Vancouver Island, blending ancient sky stories with modern science.

That story, and many others like it, just got a serious boost. An alum of the University of Victoria, together with a close partner, has slipped a $1 million US (about $1.3 million CAD) gift into UVic’s coffers. The money isn’t earmarked for a new building or fancy lab equipment; it’s set aside as an endowment that will pay for an entrance award for Indigenous students, fund more climate‑focused co‑op placements and keep the K‑12 InSTEM outreach program humming.

“Experiential learning throws you into the deep end – you meet new people, wrestle with real‑world problems and discover what you’re actually capable of,” says UVic Provost Elizabeth Croft. “This generosity opens doors, builds belonging, and ultimately feeds climate action in the communities we serve.”

Riley’s own journey is a perfect illustration. Raised in Kamloops and rooted in both Nuxalk (Bella Coola) and Ojibway (Sandy Bay) heritage, he fell in love with the night sky during a 2025 Indigenous astronomy event at UVic’s First Peoples House. “I enjoy science so much I want to pass it on,” he says, a little grin evident even in the written quote. “Outreach is how we unlock futures.”

During the summer of 2026 he slipped into a part‑time role with Science Venture, then hopped onto the InSTEM travel team. From the Nuu‑chah‑nulth to the Kwakwa̱ka̱ʼwakw, W̱SÁNEĆ to the Lək̓ʷəŋən territories, Riley and fellow educators blended traditional teachings with telescopes, letting kids see how stars guide seasons and stories alike.

The numbers speak for themselves: between January and September 2026, the InSTEM program reached roughly 990 Indigenous youth aged five to eleven across sixteen communities. Because many of those places are remote, the new endowment will help UVic bring more camps, deepen relationships and, crucially, keep the programs alive year after year.

Alison Wale, capacity‑building coordinator with Uu‑a‑thluk, watches those camps with a quiet awe. “Seeing a kid light up when the next camp rolls around… it plants seeds of possibility,” she remarks. “Our goal is to nurture Indigenous leadership in fisheries, climate, everything. When they see someone like Riley—an Indigenous student studying astronomy—they realize university is within reach. Representation matters.”

Beyond the camps, the donation funds a $9,000 entrance scholarship starting in September 2027. One (or maybe several) Indigenous students each year will get a significant chunk of their first‑year tuition covered, turning a distant dream into a concrete plan.

But the impact doesn’t stop at the undergraduate level. The gift also expands funding for co‑op placements in climate leadership, the Sustainability Scholars program and the Coastal Climate Solutions Leaders (CCSL) initiative. Those experiences sit at the sweet spot where textbook theory meets real‑world practice, letting students work side‑by‑side with researchers, NGOs and community partners.

“CCSL changed the way I think about climate work,” says Bryan Woodward, a recent Master of Environmental Studies graduate. “It forced me to cross disciplinary borders, sharpened my skills and, honestly, gave me a confidence boost that a diploma alone never could.”

All told, the $1.3 M gift is less about the money and more about the pathways it lights up—from a curious kindergarten kid watching a craft project about spinning neutron stars, to a confident Indigenous climate leader drafting solutions for coastal resilience. It’s a reminder that when alumni give back, they’re not just funding programs; they’re weaving the next generation into the fabric of scientific discovery and community stewardship.