Abbotsford Community Foundation
unveils online awards directory
The Abbotsford Community Foundation (ACF) has produced an online Student Awards Directory for 2012, listing scholarships, bursaries and other awards available to graduating Grade 12 students in SD34 and M.E.I. and it can be found at www.abbotsfordcf.org/StudentAwards.html
“Thanks to the generosity of many community groups, companies and individuals, this year we have over 265 awards totalling over $215,000 available to help students planning to continue on with post-secondary studies after they graduate,” said Susan McAlevy, executive director of ACF.
This year the Foundation has organized its directory into four categories so students can more easily identify awards they are eligible to apply for, as well as complete an online application form. “Many of our awards have very specific criteria but others are more general so it’s worthwhile for students to review all the award descriptions.” The deadline for students to submit their award application package to their student counsellor is Friday, March 2, 2012.
“We invite our donors to participate, in an advisory capacity, in selecting their award recipients, McAlevy explained. “Each year we hold a Donor Advisory Evening where donors review applications and choose candidates. ACF’s Student Awards Selection Committee then reviews the recommendations and selects the remaining award recipients.” Approximately 50 per cent of donors take part in this process and the remaining request that the Committee select their award recipients. The Selection Committee is made up of school counsellors from all the participating high schools.
Student awards are funded from the income from endowments and from annual donations. This year there are several new student awards including: Abbotsford Police Scholarship and Abbotsford Sports and Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Scholarship, both part of the Abbotsford Police City Basketball Tournament awards; the Cheryl McCormack Memorial Award; the Kody Ramsey “Inspirational” Award; and the Rodell Scholarship/Bursary. All the awards are presented at each participating high school’s graduation ceremony.
The following schools are part of ACF’s Student Awards Program: Abbotsford Collegiate, Abbotsford School of Integrated Arts (ASIA), Abbotsford Traditional Secondary, Bakerview Centre for Learning, Mennonite Educational Institute Secondary (MEI), Rick Hansen Secondary, Robert Bateman Secondary, W. J. Mouat Secondary and Yale Secondary.
For more information on how you can establish a student award, contact Susan McAlevy at 604-850-3755 or smcalevy@abbotsfordcf.org.