GENERAL
In recognition of the importance of an educated population to the future well-being of rural communities, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) established the RMA Scholarship Program in 1995. The RMA Scholarship Program is designed to encourage young rural Albertans to pursue further education, and thereby enhance the ability of these young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities in subsequent years. A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is presented to one successful applicant from each of the five districts. The 2022 application term closed August 31, 2022.
VALUE
A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is presented to one successful applicant from each of the five RMA districts.
ELIGIBILITY
An applicant must:
- Be a resident of a municipality, which is a member in good standing with the RMA, including municipal districts, counties, specialized municipalities, and the Special Areas;
- Be registered in his or her first four years of study at a recognized post-secondary institution (i.e. the applicant must not have any previous degrees or diplomas); and
- Preference will be given to candidates attending a recognized post-secondary institution in Alberta, except in instances where the chosen program of study is not available in Alberta.
- Be pursuing a course of studies of relevance to local government and / or rural communities;
- This criterion is not intended to restrict eligibility; instead, applicants are invited to explain the relevance of their intended study program within their letter of application.
APPLICATION PROCEDURE
The submission packages must include the following items:
- A letter from the applicant, setting out their goals and objectives in pursuing further education, as well as the relevance of their study program to local government or rural communities;
- Official high school transcripts if entering first year, or the most recent transcript from their post-secondary institute if entering a subsequent year
- A brief résumé outlining employment experience, community involvement, volunteer activities, recreational activities, cultural pursuits, etc.; and
- Written confirmation from the local rural municipality’s chief administrative officer (CAO) certifying that the applicant is a resident of the municipality. To get in touch with your CAO, simply contact your municipality.
JUDGING PROCEDURE
All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of RMA board members and staff. The successful candidate will be selected based upon a combination of the following criteria:
- Citizenship and community involvement
- Individual letter of application
- Academic performance
PRESENTATION OF THE AWARD
The successful candidate will be awarded a cheque in the amount of $1,000 upon receipt of confirmation of registration at a recognized Alberta post-secondary institution.
The RMA Scholarship closed August 31, 2022 and the winners will be announced in September. If you have any questions, please contact Emmanuel Chukwuma by phone at 587.689.5484 or by email at emmanuel@RMAlberta.com.