Scholarship Information

Click here for our PDF scholarship booklet

Click here for a PDF scholarship application form

Heading for university, college or another post secondary training program?

I didn't get straight "A's", and I'm not heading for university. What's out there for me?

That's okay - there are still scholarships and bursaries for you, too! Not all scholarships are based on high marks. Check out the scholarship links page - Looking at hairdressing? Want to be a mechanic? There's funding for you, too!

Start shopping for scholarships in all categories!

Miller Thomson Foundation - 2006 National Scholarship Programme

This is an annual award of $1000.00 to 200 hundred recipients across Canada. Students who are currently in their graduating year of high school, and will be attnding a post-secondary institution in the Fall of 2006, to pursue a study within Canada leading to a degree or diploma from an accredited college or university are eligible to apply.

Applicaiton deadline is: March 31, 2006. For more info and to download an application form, visit the MTFoundation website.

RE/MAX "Quest of Excellence" 2006 Bursary Program

This year RE/Max is offering 24 bursaries of $500.00 to grade 12 students in Western Canada.

Students are asked to write an essay based on their interest and passion for a selected subject. Thre are six subjects that students can choose from: Leadership, Sports, Technology & Trades, Performing Arts, Fine Arts and Community Service.

Application deadline is March 10, 2006. Additional information is on the entry form. Go to the website and click on "Quest for Excellence 2006" logo.

Applying for Scholarships

The person who says it cannot be done should not interrupt the person doing it.

Chinese proverb

So - how do I go about applying for scholarships?

There are lots of scholarships available online, and through SIDES or the district. This is a good subject to come in and meet with a counsellor about. Our counsellors are happy to hold group sessions (or one-on-one meetings) to help students get started.

Apply for as many scholarships as possible. Spend some time and effort looking; there are lots of them out there.

Pick 'Em Out

Choose the scholarships and bursaries for which you are want to apply for. (Make sure the award applies to secondary school students entering a post-secondary institution and not just to students already attending.)

Get the Forms

Get the application forms (Most are available online), make photcopies of them, and use them as rough drafts. (The ones you send out have to be nice and tidy!)

Fill 'Em Out

Complete the application forms, ask for letters of reference and recommendation, and get together all the other documents that are asked for.

Watch the Dealines

Check whether the deadline date is the date the application must be recieved or whether it is the date.

Letters of Reference

You will need to include letters of reference or recommendation. So, brainstorm who you can ask. (Choose adults who know you well, but who are not members of your family.) Employers, coaches, principals, teachers, ministers, and neighbours are all possibilities. Choose people who are familiar with you and what you've been doing - in school, athletics, student government, community service, employment, and other extra-curricular activities.

Be sure to tell your "referees" specifically what you need and give them plenty of time! Writing a good letter of reference requires time, effort, and thought. Give your "referees" copies of your resume to help them be thorough in their recommendations.

Letters of Application and Resumes

The letter of application is the first step in screening candidates, so make it a good one.

Follow a format which includes the following information:

brief outline of interests, hobbies and activities.
brief summary of positions and offices held in school, youth organizations and the community. Grades 10, 11, and 12 are usually enough; however, some require Grade 8 and 9 as well.
short statement of purpose in seeking to attend university.
information on awards, scholarships and prizes won in any field.
details of employment in the last two years.

When an application does not specifically require a letter, it is a good idea to include a resume. A resume for a scholarship application has a different emphasis from a resume for employment. Like a letter of application, a good resume requires time, effort, thought and revision. A resume should be no more than ONE page.

Feeling overwhelmed!? Contact Kathy Stefani 704-4956 for advice, tips and plain old HELP!
kstefani@sides.ca

Resumes

A good resume for scholarship applications will take about 2 to 3 pages to properly lay out on a computer.

You can also add in any certificates, awards, examples of your success. They can be photocopied and attached to your resume.

Personal Information

Full Name
Picture
SIN#
Telephone #
PEN# (Personal Education Number - get it from your school)

Career Goal

Explain what specific career area you are hoping to enter in the future. Name the university/college and specific program you will be taking.

Education

List what you have already accomplished at SIDES (and other schools)

Special Skills

List any training program you may have taken in the last three years, starting with the most recent date. Examples include:

Red Cross Water Safety
First Aid Training
Food Safe
Babysitting Course

Awards

List awards or achievements (academic, athleteic, curricular, and extra-curricular) you may have acquired/achieved starting with the most recent date

Academic Honour Roll
Swim Team Most Improved Swimmer
Duke of Edinborough Award
Judo-Blue Belt

Volunteer Work

List any school or outside volunteer activities you have been involved in over the last 3-4 years. Give the dates, place where you volunteered and briefly describe your repsonsibilities with the hours involved per week.

Coach of baseball team
Canvassing for Cancer Society
Volunteer for community activity
Candy Striping
Arbutus Society for Crippled Children

Extra-Curricular Activities

List all school or activites outside of school that you have been involved with for the last 3-4 years starting with the most recent date. Here are some examples:

Member of Student Council
Participant in school Leadership Conference
Member of 4-H
Member of Canadian Pony Club

Interests

List 5-6 interests you have, using the following exmaples to get you started:

Camping
Hiking
Rock climbing
Mountain biking
Cooking
Computer Programming

References

The references you give should be a variety of individuals that give you an all around view of you. The following information needs to be included:

Name
Address
Position/Occupation
Telephone number

Social Insurance Numbers and Reporting Scholarships for Income Tax Purposes

You must have a valid Social Insurance Number (SIN) to register for Provincial Government Exams, to be eligible for District Scholarships, and for income tax purposes. To apply for a SIN, you must complete an application form which can be obtained from the website www.hrsdc.gc.ca or from your local Human Resource Centre office. In Victoria, the offices are at 3962 Borden St and 1200 Government St.

Students will be issued tax receipts for scholarships they receive because awards in excess of $500.00 are considered taxable by Revenue Canada.