The Cmolik – SFU Grant Program
“We strive to make our communities stronger and see BC's students as the stones that start lasting ripples of change.”
—Ellen Cmolik
SFU’s Faculty of Education is responsible for an endowment that is intended to provide B.C.’s K-12 public education professionals and community members with an opportunity to receive funding for the purpose of implementing classroom, school, or district-based projects focused on innovation and enhancement initiatives, including utilization of technology. The goal is to improve the educational experience for students and motivate their love of learning, while developing critical thinking skills.
Download the Cmolik 2025 postcard
ABOUT THE FUNDERS
The Grant Program is funded through a generous endowment from Russ and Ellen Cmolik and builds on the ethos of the Cmolik Prize for Public Education, which was administered by the Faculty of Education between 2015-2019.
Since 2008, Russ Cmolik and Ellen Cmolik have opened many doors to educational opportunities for B.C. students:
- Through the Cmolik Foundation, they have provided numerous post-secondary scholarships to deserving B.C. students over the years and have funded school field trips and summer camp access for inner-city elementary students.
- The Cmolik Endowment Fund at SFU, administered by the Dean of the Faculty of Education, was previously utilized to operate the Cmolik Prize for Enhancement of Public Education, which awarded four finalists from 2015 – 2019. Beginning in 2025, the endowment fund will support grants for B.C. K-12 education professionals and community members to facilitate innovation and enhancement projects, including utilization of technology, to improve classroom experience for students.
Ellen Cmolik
Ellen Cmolik is both a Chartered Professional Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner, and has worked in industry, non-profit, public practice and teaching over the course of her 30 year career. She is passionate about ensuring the availability of education for B.C. youth.
Russ Cmolik
Russ Cmolik is a Chartered Professional Acountant and former President and Chief Operating Officer of Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers Inc., the leading industrial heavy equipment auction company in the world, where he worked for 29 years and served as President from 1992 to 2002.