John MacMillan Sterling Lecky '57 was a great visionary and benefactor of Shawnigan Lake School. He rowed for the School, the University of British Columbia, for Cambridge University and for Canada, winning a silver medal for his country at the 1960 Olympic Summer Games in Rome. John was also a member of the Canadian National Rugby team. The John M.S. Lecky Scholarship was initiated by his sister Janet Griesdale and Doug Kingsford '65, to honour John's memory and his love of sport.

The scholarship is awarded annually to students who would benefit from the opportunities offered at Shawnigan. Recipients would have already exhibited some of the talent, the character and the leadership potential that could see them go on to significant achievements in school and beyond. They should be honest, hardworking individuals motivated by a desire to pursue excellence and imbued with a declared passion for either rowing or rugby. It is envisaged that these awards would be made to students going into grades ten or eleven, or, in an exceptional case, to a grade twelve. Winners will be “Lecky Scholars” for the duration of their Shawnigan careers.