Scholarships

My Life After Westwood

 

If you have not already done so it is time to check out and APPLY to the colleges and universities of your choice. They will accept your applications without final marks so the sooner you apply the better. Do not be afraid to apply for more than one university and more than one scholarship. We have lots of handouts from Scholarship sponsors and Universities across Canada. They are available in Student Services and all new view books will arrive by the end of September

 

Speaking of scholarships - if you have not started checking scholarships you need to start soon. With 60,000 plus scholarships it is well worth your while to invest some time in the application process. There is no one site that has it all so you need to do some research.

 

Post Secondary FAQ's

 

They’re asking for my marks, what should I provide?

Most post-secondary institution will ask you to submit mid-term or final marks for required courses. Early in the process you can provide them with your most recent report card marks for mid-term marks, provide them with information on courses you are taking in semester II and provide them with any marks for completed required courses (available from student services). Unofficial transcripts or DAR’s (Detailed academic reports) can be downloaded from myPass or requested from student services. Most post-secondary institutions do not require official transcripts until later on, but if needed you can order official transcripts through myPass. In the meantime, keep the post-secondary up-to-date on your information: send updated DAR’s at the end of semester 1, provide a letter with any updated plans, address changes, new e-mails, and don’t be afraid to call them with questions. They will not think any less of you; there are several folks at colleges and universities whose job it is to answer your questions and to provide you, their future student, with supports.

 

I have no idea what I want to do next year, what should I do?

This is a tough question that requires careful consideration. Best advice; talk to your parents, friends, teachers, and, of course, your friendly neighborhood guidance counselors. Best place to start, ask yourself: "What do I really love doing" and go from there . . . A great on-line resource to help you with this is www.alis.alberta.ca and click on career insite.

Also try https://www.careercruising.com username: ymcayc password: careers

 

At University…..Am I a graduate or undergraduate?

You are an undergraduate - undergrad programs or bachelor degrees are the ones you are interested in. Grad programs are for students who have one or more university degrees already. Most post-secondary Institutions have online applications. If applying to a university or college in Alberta, you must go through the Apply Alberta website. www.applyalberta.ca/

 

Scholarship Information

What is a Scholarship?

A non-repayable sum of money awarded to a student to help finance further education. Most scholarships are based on merit in areas ranging from academic to athletic achievement. Many scholarships also focus on community service, volunteerism, leadership and/or citizenship. Usually scholarships are not based on financial need. The following website provides you with a detailed list of Alberta Scholarships. www.studentaid.calberta.ca/scholarships/

You can also look up national scholarships at www.studentawards.com and www.scholarshipscanada.com

 

What is a Bursary?

A bursary is a non-repayable grant of money. Bursaries are awarded primarily based on financial need, but academic achievement is also being considered. Usually, the applicant must provide detailed documentation describing their financial situation when applying for the bursary.

 

Specific Scholarships

*Note: Most scholarships awarded based on membership in clubs or parental criteria are not included in this list, as well as essay contests.

 

NON-COMPETITIVE – EASY APPLICATION, BIG BUCKS

Alexander Rutherford Scholarship (Provincial)

• Deadline: May/December

• Requirements: Be an Alberta resident who is attending at least a semester of post-secondary and has at least a 75% average in at least 5 required courses from grades 10-12

• Apply online now!

 

Scholarships Canada

• This website has information about many Canada-wide scholarships

 

Additional Links

Scholar Tree

Student Aid Alberta

AUCC

School Finder

Fast Web

How 2 Win Scholarships

Student Awards

The following is a list of some of the most popular scholarships available to Westwood students. Scholarships are also featured on Westwood social media, so we recommend that all grade 12 students follow on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook for the most up to date information.

Future Shop/Boys and Girls Club Scholarship (National)

Value: up to $4000

Requirements:

• Be a member of the Boys and Girls Club for at least one year

• Be under 24 years old

 

Loran Scholar

Requirements:

• Be in a graduation year of uninterrupted, full-time studies in high school or CEGEP (exceptions may be considered)

• Present a minimum cumulative average of 85%

• Hold Canadian citizenship or permanent resident status

• Scholarship is awarded based on strong academic standing, community service, leadership and/or extracurricular activity

• Application process begins in September of graduating year

 

Loran Scholarship (Provincial/National)

Value: $2000-$3000

Requirements:

• Students are required to have at least two reference letters

• Students must have a counselor recommendation

• The high school can sponsor 3 students - forms must be in to Mrs. Tulk no later than October 15

• For deadlines, see website

 

TD Canada Trust Scholarships for Community Leadership

Value: up to $15,000

Requirements:

• Be a Grade 12 student with outstanding leadership and a minimum average of 75%

• Awarded based on quality of references, strong leadership abilities and academic merit

 

RMWB Distinguished Youth Citizenship Award (Municipal)

Requirements:

• Nominees must have resided in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo for at least one year, and must be under 18

• Contact RMWB for more information

 

Earl and Countess of Wessex - World Championship Athletics Scholarship (Provincial)

Value: $3000

Requirements:

• Be a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant, residing in Alberta

• Plan on entering full-time post-secondary studies at the University of Alberta, University of Calgary, or University of Lethbridge

• Must join the university's Track & Field team within one year

 

Horatio Alger - Jim Pattison Alberta and British Columbia Scholarship Programs

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 students attending high school in Alberta or BC

• Must intend on attending an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada

• Must be experiencing critical financial need

• Must have a minimum average of 65%

• Must be involved in co-curricular or community actives

• Must be a Canadian Citizen

• For application deadlines, see website

 

Wendy's Classic Achiever Scholarship

Value: up to $5000

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student who achieved at least a 70% academic average the previous year

• Have participated in at least one extracurricular activity

• Provide proof of community service and/or volunteerism

 

Toyota Earth Day Scholarship (Provinical/National)

Value: up to $5000

Requirements:

• Students must be currently in their graduating year, or have graduated in the last two years from a Canadian high school or must be entering their first year of full-time studies at an accredited Canadian college or university

• Must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident (landed immigrant) or have refugee status

• Must have demonstrated outstanded environmental commitment, community service and leadership during the course of their studies

• Must maintain a high level of academic achievement

• Applicants must not be an employee or then immediate family member of an employee of Toyota Canada Inc. and its dealers, Toyota Canada Foundation or Earth Day Canada

• Further requirements are listed in the application package

 

Terry Fox Humanitarian Award (National)

Value: up to $15,000

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 Canadian student applying to post-secondary studies, with a strong level of community service or humanitarian work

• Awarded based on humanitarian or community service, academic standing, and financial need

 

RBC Royal Bank Scholarship

Value: up to $10,000

Requirements:

• For graduating high school or CEGEP students and full-time university or college students

• See website for additional details

 

RBC Royal Bank Scholarship for New Canadians

Value: $3500

Requirements:

• For Graduating high school or CEGEP students who have immigrated to Canada

• See website for additional details

 

Grant MacEwan United World College Scholarships

Value: $3500

Requirements:

• For Alberta's best grade 11 students, with a chance to complete their high school at one of the twelve United World Colleges located throughout the world

• Applicants must be Alberta residents and between 16 and 17 years of age

 

Lorraine & Doug Demers Scholarship

Value: $3000

Requirements:

• This award is designed to encourage graduating students from Fort McMurray Public School District to further their post-secondary education

• Students must be in financial need

• Must be continuing their studies in an accredited Canadian program

• If there is no applicant as per above, application will be open to any student attending a Canadian post-secondary program

• Applications to be received in March to Westwood Student Services, and forwarded to District Office in April

• See Mrs. Tulk for more information

 

Masonic Higher Education Bursary (Provincial)

Value: up to $2000

Requirements:

• • • Applicant must be an Alberta student applying to post-secondary

    • Awarded based on financial need and scholastic achievement

 

Re/Max Quest for Excellence Bursary (Regional/Provincial)

Value: $500

Requirements:

• Applicants must be a grade 12 student applying to a post-secondary institution

 

Alberta Apprenticeship and Industry Training Scholarships (Provincial)

Value: $1000

Requirements:

• Applicants must be an Alberta resident who is registered as an Alberta apprentice in a trade, pursuing further training at a post-secondary institution

• Awarded based on financial need, academic standing and quality of references

 

Garfield Weston Merit Scholarship for Colleges (Provincial/National)

Value: up to $8000

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 Canadian student who is enrolling in a Diploma program in post-secondary for at least 2 years, and has at least a 75% average

• Awarded based on being passionate in the chosen field of study and wanting to contribute to the community

 

RBC Aboriginal Student Awards Program

Value: up to $4000

Requirements:

• For status and non-status First Nations, Inuit, or Metis persons pursuing post-secondary education

 

Canadian Association of Principals Student Leadership Award (National)

Value: $500

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student who demonstrates strong leadership and is in the top 20% of his/her class academically

• Awarded based on nominations, academic standing, and leadership skills

 

CHF University Entrance Scholarship (National)

Value: up to $3500

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student enrolling in tourism, hotel, or hospitality fields at a post-secondary institution

• Awarded based on work experience, academic record, and quality of references

 

CIBC Youthvision Scholarship Program (National)

Value: up to $4000

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student maintaining a 60% average and be part of a Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentoring program

 

Reginald K. Groome Memorial Scholarship (National)

Value: $1500

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student and member of Boy Scouts Canada, applying to post-secondary

 

Indigenous Careers Award (Provincial)

Value: up to $10,000

Requirements:

• Applicant must be First Nations, Inuit, or Metis, and have been living in Alberta for the last three years

• Must be planning to enroll full-time at a post-secondary school

• Awarded based on financial need, academic standing, program of study, involvement in the aboriginal community, and experience in the healthcare field

 

CA Maclean Journalism Bursary (Provincial)

Value: $2000

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student planning to study journalism at post-secondary

 

Library Association of Alberta Scholarship (Provincial)

Value: up to $1500

Requirements:

• Student must be planning to study Library Studies at post-secondary and be a personal member of the Library Association of Alberta

 

Orville Erickson Memorial Scholarship Fund (National)

Value: $3000

Requirements:

• Be a Canadian student pursuing a field related to wildlife consideration at the postsecondary level

 

RBC Royal Bank Financial Life Skills Scholarships

Value: $2000

Requirements:

• Be a high school graduate and have a minimum grade average of 65%

• Must be registered or accepted at a college or university in Canada

 

Kinsman/Kinette Club of Fort McMurray Scholarship

Value: $500

Requirements:

• Be in grade 12 with an grade average of 60%

• Attended school in Fort McMurray for at least 3 years

• Are enrolled in a post-secondary program in Canada

• Have volunteered in the community

• See Mrs. Tulk for additional details and to apply

 

Fort McMurray Real Estate Board Scholarship

Value: $2500

Requirements:

• Applicant must be a student of a Fort McMurray high school

• Must demonstrate leadership and be involved in the community

• Must have demonstrated academic improvement

• See Mrs. Tulk for additional details and to apply

 

AUCC Scholarship for Students with Disabilities (National)

Value: up to $5000

Requirements:

• Must be a Canadian citizen who has been diagnosed with a permanent disability

 

Alberta Centennial Scholarships

Value: $2000

Requirements:

• Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada

• Must be entering any level of post-secondary at any university, college, technical institute or apprenticeship program in Canada

 

Premier's Citizenship Award

Value: $2000-$5000

Requirements:

• Student must be a resident of Alberta in their graduating year

• Recipients receive a plaque from the Premier

 

ATA Scholarship

Value: $1000

Requirements:

• Student must be a child of an ATA member

• Must be a grade 12 student, showing proof of enrollment in a post-secondary institution

• Successful applicant combines academics, community involvement, leadership and citizenship

• See Mrs. Tulk for additional details and to apply

 

Anna and John Kolesar Memorial Scholarship (National)

Value: up to $1500

Requirements:

• Be an Alberta resident completing grade 12, planning to enter the Faculty of Education.

• You must be from a family where neither parent attended post-secondary and earned a degree

• This award is given during the second year of study

• Awarded based on the academic average of English and two other subjects

 

APEGA University Entrance Scholarship (National)

Value: $3000

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student applying to an engineering, geophysics, or geology department at a post-secondary institution in Alberta

• Awarded based on grade 12 marks, extra curricular involvement and financial need

 

Bill Kehler Memorial Award (Provincial)

Value: up to $2500

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student applying to post-secondary with interests in agriculture, broadcasting or rodeos

 

Children's Ability Fund Bursary (Provincial)

Value: up to $5000

Requirements:

• Be a student with disability living in Northern Alberta, applying to post-secondary or be a person who has contributed to helping the community deal with disabilities, applying to post-secondary

• Awarded based on grade 12 marks, then extracurricular involvement and financial need

 

Royal Canadian Legion Bursary (Provincial)

Value: up to $500

Requirements:

• Be a grade 12 student who is a relative of someone who is currently a firefighter, RCMP officer, or reserves soldier, or a relative of someone who was once a service personnel

• Awarded based on grade 12 marks, then extracurricular involvement and financial need

 

CAGA Entrance Scholarship

Requirements:

• Be a Canadian Citizen with an amputation and some degree of financial need

• Or alternately an able bodied person who is pursuing the field of prosthetics and is enrolled in a registered program

The following scholarships are available through the Fort McMurray Public School District. Applications are due June 1. Students can get applications from Mrs. Tulk in Student Services in late April.

 

Jack and Louise Corless Memorial Scholarship

Value: $500.00

Number: One for each high school in Fort McMurray.

Purpose: To recognize the achievements of students who have demonstrated leadership and citizenship. In selecting the recipient of this award, particular attention may be given to a student who has overcome personal difficulties, or who is in financial need.

Tenable: At any accredited post-secondary school.

Eligibility: Applicant must be graduating in the year in which the applicant is applying.

Deadline: June 1, 2018

History:

• Jack and Louise came to Fort McMurray in 1975. Jack was the Principal who opened Beacon Hill. He then opened the new Greely Road School. Spent a few months as Principal of Composite prior to his death in 1984.

• Jack served two (2) terms on City Council as Alderman; he also was on the Hospital Board.

• Louise taught school at Thickwood. While she did teach Grade One and Grade Four, most of her time there was as a Teacher Librarian. When Louise retired she worked tirelessly for her church. Louise died in August 1994.

• Jack and Louise were two very committed educators who helped to build the Public School system in the early days of McMurray.

• The Corless family includes three (3) children – two of whom were educated at Composite and the youngest graduated from Westwood.

• This scholarship focuses on – Leadership and Citizenship

 

Chris Ryan/Terry Conroy Humanitarian Award

Decision made at high school level and award will be presented at the awards ceremony. Associate Superintendent of Education & Administration’s office is to be advised prior to awards ceremony so that a cheque may be prepared in time. Applications available in student services. This award is only available to Westwood Students

Value: $500.00

History:

• Chris Ryan – Grade 10 student – died of cancer

• Terry Larson – Parent – died of cancer

 

AON Scholarship

Decision made at high school level and award will be presented at the awards ceremony. Associate Superintendent of Education & Administration’s office is to be advised prior to awards ceremony so that a cheque may be prepared in time. Applications available in student services. This scholarship is for Westwood students only

Value: $500.00

Must have completed Math 30-1 and Math 31 and going into STEM field.

 

 

Heidi List Memorial Scholarship

Sponsor:Terracon Geotechnique Ltd.

Award: $500.00

Nomination: Students registered in a post-secondary institute.

Purpose: To recognize a student for their citizenship.

Eligibility / Criteria:

• Preferences will be given to any of the following programs of study including, teaching, or working with children, arts and music.

• Nominees must have been enrolled and attended the Fort McMurray Public School District for 3 or more years.

• Nominees are actively involved in the community and demonstrate leadership qualities, emphasis on strong “behind the scene” support.

• Nominees should possess a strong giving character and give generously of their time, emphasis on selfless-giving and contribute to society, i.e. Volunteer work.

Application Process:

• Complete Nomination Form and submit to Student Services

 

 

Northwinds Marching Band Scholarships -

Award: $300.00 for each category

Nomination: Students must be in high school, but do not have to be in grade 12. Each student is nominated by his or her music teacher.

Purpose: To recognize three students from each of the three Fort McMurray High Schools in the following instruments: Woodwinds, Percussion and Brass

The criteria for this award includes:

• Short Essay discussing their interest in music, high school band experience and how long they have played

 

 

Clearwater Horse Club Equine Scholarship

Sponsor: Clearwater Horse Club

Award: $500.00

Nomination: Students must be in grade 12 and eligible to receive a High School Diploma.

Purpose: To encourage students to further their post-secondary education in Equine fields of study.

Eligibility / Criteria:

• First, open to students who are continuing their post-secondary education in equine fields

• Second, if no applicants for Equine post-secondary, then other common fields of study which include Animal Science, Veterinary, Agriculture

• Finally, if not applicant for the above noted field of study, open to any student attending an Alberta post-secondary program.

• Recipient to provide proof of acceptance to a post-secondary institute.

• Clearwater Horse Club requires a letter from the recipient following the completion of the first term for the purpose of updating their members.

• A short essay is required, discussing the applicants’ interest in the equine field, experience, and future goals.

Selection Criteria:

• • Alberta Program = 1 point.

  • Involvement with Equine programs, such as 4-H Club, Riding Clubs and personal riding experience = 2 points.

  • 70% or higher grade point average = 1 point.

Total of 4 points, if a tie occurs, names will be drawn to select the winner.

Selection Committee:

• Two Clearwater Horse Club Members

• One Public School Board employee

• One Catholic School Board employee