Earl Marriott Secondary



TAMANAWIS

Secondary School

Scholarships and Awards

Note: This material is presented as a guide only. Please consult original sources such as the post secondary calendars and the Tamanawis Career Centre for the most recent information and timelines/deadlines for applications.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Checklist ……………………………………………………………………………3

Preface ..……………………………………………………………………………..4

Definitions …..................................................................................................................5

Scholarship Strategy ……………………...………………………………………..6

Six Types of Scholarships ………………………………………………………....8

Request for a Letter of Reference (Appendix).. …………………………………....11

CHECKLIST

o Read this handbook

o Read the “Grad Planner” resource book from the Ministry of Education



o Go to Database of Scholarships on the Tamanawis website under Career Centre, then Scholarships

o Go to the websites according to your career or institution of interest

o Request letters of reference (Use the “Request for a Letter of Reference” form or pick one up in the Career Centre).

o Prepare letter or essay for the award

o Send in applications by their deadlines

PREFACE

Each year, thousands of dollars have been awarded to our students through various scholarships and awards. The information that has been accumulated in this booklet is intended to give our students a broad picture of the financial opportunities available to them.

The objectives of this booklet are:

l. To encourage students to apply for scholarships and bursaries that

will give them the opportunity to enhance their educational background.

2. To make students aware of possible financial support to help cover the

cost of their post secondary education.

For further information on post secondary scholarships, bursaries and student loans, students should contact a financial aid office at a post secondary institute, the Tamanawis Career Centre, or any of the following websites:

• B.C. Programs & Services, Provincial & District Scholarships:



• Canada Student Loans Program:



• Scholarships Canada:



• Canadian Financial Aid Resource:



• CanLearn Interactive Web Site – to help plan and finance education:

canlearn.ca

• Canadian Merit Scholarship:



• Association of Universities & Colleges:



• For students who would like to study abroad:



• Tamanawis Secondary database:



DEFINITIONS

Scholarship

A monetary award based on academic merit or excellence in the area to which the award pertains. This often includes involvement in extra-curricular and community activities, and personal qualities such as leadership ability and citizenship.

Entrance Scholarship

An award that is available to students who are proceeding from grade 12 to studies at a post-secondary institution. These scholarships are awarded by the specific institution to new admissions.

Bursary

A non-repayable award made to students who are in need of financial assistance and who have maintained a satisfactory academic record. Evidence of need may be required.

StudentAidBC

StudentAidBC provides both repayable loan and non-repayable grant and loan remission to help meet the costs of your post-secondary education. For further information, contact the Financial Awards Office of the post-secondary institution you plan to attend, or contact:

StudentAidBC

Ministry of Science and Universities

1st Floor, 835 Humboldt Street

Victoria, BC V8V 4W8



Victoria (250) 387-6100

Lower Mainland (604) 660-2610

Rest of BC 1-800-561-1818

SCHOLARSHIP STRATEGY

A. INTRODUCTION:

With a little effort you can develop a “scholarship strategy” to help you to sort through the myriad of scholarships, bursaries, grants, and awards with relative ease. The keys to success are planning and education. Planning and preparation should begin early in the school year to provide maximum flexibility in the pursuit of your scholarship goals. You, of course, must also know what you are looking for and what you are capable of attaining; and this is where education comes in. You will have to become familiar with scholarship types, scholarship terminology, necessary qualifications, application procedures, references, etc.

B. STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Survey the range of scholarships available. Keep up to date by reading posted information, attending scholarship meetings, and making regular inquiries regarding the latest material available.

2. Determine which scholarships are realistically available by consulting the criteria and application deadlines pertinent to each scholarship.

3. Obtain application forms, collect the necessary documents (marks, transcripts, reference letters), prepare any required essays or resumes, and submit applications in time to meet deadlines.

4. Maintain a high Grade Point Average (G.P.A.). Note those scholarships for which candidates are screened according to G.P.A. achieved. (In some cases the relevant G.P.A. may be based on grades achieved in a specialty area over a two-year period.)

5. Some financial awards require the writing of government exams. High academic criteria scholarships may require specific exam results, such as the Euclid Math Exam results.

6. Some financial awards, usually high academic or entrance scholarships, require that the school or Principal nominate only one student for a specific award. Financial awards that require nominations usually have early deadline applications.

5. 7. Since many scholarships require more than high academic standing, students should consider such areas as community service, volunteer work, extra-curricular involvement and participation.

C. VOLUNTEERISM/COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

There are many scholarships which expect a student to extend themselves beyond their academic studies. Students should keep a file of activities they have been involved in including

a) Conferences/workshops attended. Opportunities are often available and supported at school. Involvement with Global Awareness, Harmony in Action, PE Leadership, Monthly Student Forum, School Planning Council and Student Council are where these opportunities are often advertised.

b) Your involvement in school activities and the details of the involvement. Taking a leadership role or assisting in the success of an activity should be noted. In your file keep any newspaper or newsletter articles which highlight the activity and/or your involvement. This will become part of your scholarship portfolio. Brainstorm and check with a friend. Quite often we do not give ourselves credit for what we have accomplished.

c) Follow through on your passion with the support of the school. Do you have an idea of how to improve your school or your community? Great ideas which are supported with action are highly respected by outside organizations and the staff of Tamanawis. This type of involvement results in wonderful letters of recommendation which support your scholarship applications.

D. STRATEGY:

Scholarship candidates should adopt the following strategy for making scholarship applications:

1. Apply for a Canadian Social Insurance Number (S.I.N.) if you do not already have one. Recipients of Provincial District awards and of Provincial Scholarships must have a Canadian S.I.N. Recipients of scholarships administered by the universities may also be required to have one. Do not include this information unless specifically requested.

2. Prepare a letter of application early in the school year. Having an application template done in advance can save time and minimize stress while scholarship hunting.

Have a thorough list of skills, past experiences, awards and academic achievements on hand as part of your template. This go-to list will make a world of difference in the quickness of your application process.

When you write the letter, it should include this information:

• how specific subjects have influenced you

• a brief outline of your interests, hobbies, and activities.

• a summary of positions and offices you have held in school, youth

organizations, and the community.

• a short statement of the goals you wish to achieve while attending

a post-secondary institution.

• information concerning awards, scholarships, and prizes which you

have won in any field.

• details of any employment you have had in the last two years.

Re-write the letter over time until you are pleased with the result. Make sure that your letter is neat and legible, is on 8 ½” x 11” paper (one side only), and uses regular business letter format. Keep a copy of your completed applications.

If you are applying to an academic scholarship, use academic or professional language. Other scholarship panels look for a more personal application: for these, use less formal language and be sure to highlight your own opinion, giving judges a better understanding of your personality.

3. Apply for as many scholarships as possible. Some online scholarships allow you to save your work on your own computers, making it easy to finish one or two parts of the application at a time.

E. HOW TO OBTAIN TRANSCRIPTS

Many scholarship applications require the student to include a transcript of their high school marks (usually grades 11 and 12). You can do this by completing an “Interim Transcript Request Form” at the main office. A secretary will prepare the number of copies you require and your counsellor can verify the data with his/her signature.

Note: You will need to give the office at LEAST one day’s notice.

F. LETTERS OF REFERENCE

Reference letters are very important support in an application. Try to get a mix of letters, i.e. from a teacher, an employer, someone from the community. Provide them with a copy of your completed Request for a Letter of Reference. To do their best for you, they need to be given advance notice and sufficient time (at LEAST two weeks). Don’t ask on Wednesday for a letter needed Friday. If possible, include a copy of the award for which you are applying, and in particular, a copy of the criteria upon which the award is based.

G. ESSAYS

Some scholarships may require the applicant to write an essay or autobiography. Stick to the length, format, and subject matter specified in the instructions. If goals are requested, include short and long-term goals. Your long-term goals may change over the next few years, but that is usually taken into consideration. A good idea is to confer with an English teacher about your draft and final work.

H. SCHOLARSHIP PORTFOLIO

Keep a scholarship ‘PORTFOLIO’. Include copies of your student profile, applications, reference letters, resumes, transcripts, and essays. Often, you may be able to use the same material for different applications. Being organized and having a ready file of scholarship data will save you a lot of time.

SIX BASIC TYPES OF SCHOLARSHIPS

1. Provincial Scholarships: ($1,000)

Provincial Scholarships are based on performance on provincial examinations. Scholarships of $1,000 will be awarded to each student. The top twenty students in the province will receive awards of $2,500 each.

If you wish to be eligible for a provincial scholarship, you must:

• Achieve at least a B in English 12.

• Achieve 86% or higher on their three best Grade 12 exams.

• Graduate from a British Columbia secondary school.

• Be a Canadian Citizen or permanent resident at the time the exam is written.

(page 94)

2. Dogwood District/Authority Award: $1,000 ($500 award, $500 education grant)

The Ministry of Education also provides a Scholarship of $1,000 and Awards which are designed to acknowledge excellence in fields, other than academic, to assist students in furthering their education in the business, vocational, technical, or fine arts fields.

Awards are given to those who are graduating and who have excelled in a Career-Oriented program such as Business Education, Fine and Performing Arts, Hospitality/Tourism, Industrial Education, or Home Economics. Students must have at least five courses in one career area with at least two of those courses being at the grade twelve level. Students are nominated by teachers and winners are determined by the Tamanawis Scholarship Committee.

(page 98-99)

3. Passport to Education:

Tamanawis Secondary Guidelines to the Ministry of Education Passport to Education

The Passport to Education Program recognizes and rewards student achievement in Grades 10 to 12 in a broad range of non-academic, as well as academic, areas according to guidelines set out by the Ministry of Education. Passport awards are used to assist students with tuition towards their post-secondary education and/or job training programs. Grade 10 and 11 stamps are each worth $250. Grade 12 is worth $500 for a total over three years of $1,000. All student passports are kept in the office until students graduate.

(page 102)

4. University / College Entrance Scholarships:

Most universities, colleges, and private post-secondary institutions throughout North America provide Entrance Scholarships to superior Grade 12 students. The criteria for screening applicants may be based upon any one or any combination of the following:

a) scholastic standing on provincial examination results

b) record of senior secondary grades (Grade Point Average)

c) personal interviews and/or overall performance in a given area (such as music, athletics, citizenship)

Generally, applications should be prepared early in the year as the deadline for receipt of applications can be as early as the end of February. Students should carefully note deadlines and prepare their applications well in advance.

For lists of entrance scholarships offered by B.C. universities and colleges, students can refer to the following sources:

(a) UBC:

(b) SFU:

(c) University of Victoria:



(d) Kwantlen Polytechnic University:



(e) BCIT:

(f) Websites of other BC, Canadian and international universities and colleges: see websites

on page 4 of this booklet.

5. School-Based and District (Partners 36) Scholarships and Bursaries

Over 50 local scholarships and awards are available to qualified applicants who submit an application and meet specific eligibility requirements. Application for these awards can be made by completing the TAMANAWIS SECONDARY Application for Bursaries and Scholarships. These application forms will be available during April and must be submitted to the Tamanawis Scholarship Committee chair.

The criteria for selecting recipients may be based upon any one or any combination of the following:

(a) scholastic standing on provincial examination results

(b) grade 11 & 12 Grade Point Average and/or percent average

(c) specific criteria as determined by the contributor

An important reminder that students who have been involved in academic dishonesty (cheating, plagiarism, dishonesty) are not eligible for Tamanawis awards.



6. Miscellaneous Scholarships and Bursaries

There are a number of additional scholarships and bursaries available to graduating British Columbia students. Some of these are administered by the provincial Ministry of Education. As well, there exist numerous scholarships and awards administered by hundreds of organizations and companies across Canada. These awards often fall under one of the following categories:

(a) Affiliation-based Awards – (Parent’s workplace, unions and associations)

(b) Athletic Scholarships and Bursaries

(c) Career-based Awards

(d) Citizenship/Leadership Awards

(e) Military Scholarships and Awards

(f) Awards administered by Universities on behalf of donors.

See the scholarship websites on page 4 of this booklet.

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