What are the Immaculata Grad Bursaries?

•  Scott Lawler (ask Mr. Richard for an application form)

• PSG

• 2 x Grad bursaries

• Student council bursary

• Jim Finucaine Bursary

• Walter Drosdovech

• Richard Togni Bursary

•  Alabaster Investments

• Class of 2019 Legacy of Service Award

How do I apply for the Immaculata Grad Bursaries?

• Students apply through writing a letter addressing the desire to be considered for the bursary. This letter is to be emailed to agriffin@cisnd.ca and should be addressed to the “Immaculata Bursary Advising Committee”.

• Students are asked to discuss the following 3 questions. The paragraphs must form a cohesive piece of writing. It must have an introduction and a conclusion with proper grammar and spelling.

1.  What are your educational/career plans? Describe the experiences that have contributed to these plans.

2.  Describe the three qualities that best demonstrate your character. Use examples from your life to illustrate these qualities.

3.  Describe your family (include custodial/noncustodial parent information). Explain any financial and nonfinancial struggles that you may have encountered.

• Open to any graduating student                

The purpose of this bursary is to help a young, practicing Catholic graduate of Immaculata Regional High School fund their post-secondary studies.  The Knights of Columbus (Council #2558) is looking to support an IRHS graduate who has been accepted to a Canadian post-secondary institute and meets the following criteria:

·         Is a practicing Catholic

·         Regularly volunteers (at the school, in the parish, in the community, etc.)

·         Has achieved Honour Roll, Principal’s List, and/or Special Merit List

·         Has a letter of acceptance from a Canadian post-secondary institution

How to apply:

·         Applicants are to write one paragraph (two paragraphs maximum) describing how they have met the above criteria.

·         Students are asked to have their parish priest sign the application confirming that the applicant is an active member of the parish (i.e. regularly attending Mass, involved in any parish ministries, etc.)

Submit applications to Mr. Plaxton.  If you have any difficulty preparing the above application, please see Mr. Plaxton.

The purpose of this award is to recognize students who worked diligently throughout high school to save funds for post-secondary education while at the same time maintaining strong academics.  This award is designed to financially help students who plan on attending post-secondary and who have worked hard to help themselves once they leave the K-12 system.

To qualify for this award students need:

·         To have had a job(for at least two years) while attending grades 8-12

o   More years of employment strengthen a student’s application

·         To have maintained a GPA of no less that 3.0 (honour roll) during the years that he/she worked

·         To have saved a minimum of $7000 towards their post-secondary education

o   IMPORTANT NOTE: This is money the students earned through work (or through taking advantage of the government’s RESP program)

o   The $7000 cannot include gifts from friends or family members, it must funds earned by the student

·         Students who worked, maintained their academics, volunteered, and played on school sports teams will have the strongest applications.

·         To provide the school with an acceptance letter from their post-secondary institution.

How to apply:

·         Applicants are to write one paragraph (two paragraphs maximum) describing how they have met the above criteria.

·         Students are to submit a printed budget (using MS Excel) that describes the student’s monthly spending habits

·         Students are to submit a copy of as many T4s and or tax returns as possible (used to verify employment)

Submit applications to Mr. Plaxton.  If you have any difficulty preparing the above application, please see Mr. Plaxton.

COBSS Application Instructions (23/24)

There are 2 types of awards:

1. No criteria awards which are open to all students

2. Specific criteria awards which have been established by donors

•       BURSARY – primarily based on financial need

•       SCHOLARSHIP –  based on excellence; excellence can be in a variety of areas - academic, fine arts, applied skills, sports, community involvement, etc.

•       AWARD – based on donor discretion

Criteria:

•  Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee living within the boundaries of SD #23.

• Must be applying/have applied and plan to attend FULL TIME at an accredited post-secondary institution in September of graduation year.

• Obtain a minimum of 60% average in all grade 11 and 12 courses

• Registered in a minimum of six (6) courses during grade 12 year, and will complete a minimum of six (6) courses by June 30th not including the grade 12 Capstone Careers course.

• Have potential to graduate for the first time this June.

• Attending one of the member schools of COBSS as their home school during graduation year.

Selection Process:

1.       Applications are submitted online.

2.       Applications are read only by school counsellors, donors and members of the COBSS selection committee consisting of representatives from each of the member schools.

3.       Applications are strictly confidential.

4.       School counsellors are not part of the selection process.

How are award recipients selected?

1. Financial Need – based on line 150 of tax return and any special circumstances

2. Academic Ability – the average of student’s Grade 11 and Grade 12 marks

3. Active Citizenship – such as involvement in school and community

How do I apply?

a) The on-line application is available at:

• www.cobss.sd23.bc.ca –and follow link:                

b) If you are having difficulties, please see your school counsellor.

c) The on-line application opens on Nov. 28th.

1.      Click on New Students Register Here

2.      Put in your access code:  irhs2024

3.      Click on Instructions and follow carefully. If you have any questions, please see your school counsellor.

Fill in the application form carefully and as accurately as possible after reading all of the Instructions. Students may go back and edit as often as they wish until the site closes at 11:59 pm on Jan. 15th.

• Use the drop down menus where given

• Complete paragraph answers in the space provided.

• Be aware that the secure site will time out. (after 480 mins)** Remember to click “Save & Continue” before moving on

TIP: Compose paragraphs in a Word Document, and then cut and paste into COBSS application. Space is limited so write concisely as there are a maximum number of characters available.

Please check spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

**** For the remainder of the power point, go to immaculatakelowna.ca  and click on “Counselling”, and then on “Academic Advisor/Grad Coordinator”. The power point will be there. The Power Point will also be printed off and hanging off the grade 12 and the Learning Commons bulletin boards.

MY APPLICATION

1.       One critical component of the application is the paragraph answers under Student Personal Statements.

• There are 3 questions you will need to answer in this section.

• This is where your personality shows through and helps the committee with its decision.

• BE CREATIVE, HONEST and CONCISE and remember to proofread your answers.

• With your words, you are trying to create a vision in the donor’s mind of who you are, what your goals and dreams are and why you deserve to be selected for the award.

QUESTION 1:

What are your educational/career plans? Describe the experiences that have contributed to these plans.

TIPS:

• Try to be original and creative.

• Do not start with “My name is____ and I am in grade 12 at ____.”

QUESTION 2:

For the selection committee, describe the three qualities that best demonstrate your character. Use examples from your life to illustrate these qualities.

TIPS:

• Try to get across who you are and what you are about in words.

• You want to stand out in the sea of applications.

QUESTION 3:

Describe your family (include custodial and non-custodial parent information). Explain any financial and non-financial struggles that you may have encountered.

TIPS:

• Remember that financial need is one of the areas that selection is based on for COBSS awards.

• This is a snapshot of your current family and financial situation.

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Another important part of the application is  Your Activity Details.

Students will include their activities from grades 10, 11 & 12 in the following three areas:

• Community & School Based Involvement & Achievements

• Volunteer Experience

• Paid Work Experience

Under each activity heading, list the 3 MOST SIGNIFICANT activities in which  you have been involved.

For each activity, list in this order:

1.   Organization

2.   Your activities/responsibilities/duties

3.   Dates (mm/yyyy-mm/yyyy)

4.   Estimated total activity hours (per week)

5.   Total overall hours

TIP:   Remember to include anticipated hours until the end of June

Statements of Reference ** new procedure this year **

Consider community people, employers, and teachers as potential referees. (One teacher and one community reference is recommended.) You are unable to ask Mrs. Griffin.

• Choose referees carefully and contact them in advance for permission.

Referees will be contacted by email so ensure that you enter the email address CORRECTLY

Other Information

1. Applications must be completed online on time –there are no extensions.

2.  Prior to the due date please confirm that your parent/guardian and your references have completed their online documents.

***Transcript–will be added by your school counsellor

3. Your COBSS online application package will be submitted automatically on: Mon. Jan. 15that 11:59 pm

Plan your time accordingly  You cannot  make changes or print after this time.

If you are a COBSS award recipient, please:  Write an immediate thank you note to your donor.

A follow up thank you note in the early fall is always a kind gesture.

PLEASE REMEMBER

TIP:  Keep a binder of all your awards so that you can track them accurately and use them before they expire.