WELCOME to the

1. WELCOMEto the 2013 Scholarship Information Evening for Parents and Students

2. The Belmont Scholarship Team Coordinators:Mr. Froess, Mr. Feser and the Belmont Counsellors We are here to: • Provide information and guide students in their search for scholarships and bursaries • Work with students to help prepare all aspects of their applications • Advise students of various scholarship opportunities

3. Financing Post-Secondary Studies • What will it cost? • 2013 undergraduate university tuition + miscellaneous fees = $5500-$6500 per year (depending on institution and faculty) • College tuition = about 30% less • Books = $750-$1000 • Living in residence = $4,700-$8900 per year (depending on type of housing and meal plan)

4. Where Will the Money Come From? How can you pay for it? • Scholarships – merit and/or academic-based awards • Bursaries – based on financial need • Student loans – interest-free while in school • Student Line of Credit – arranged though your banking institution

5. Scholarship Websites Peruse the internet (i.e.: Google) or enroll in these sites: • scholarshipscanada.com • studentawards.com • studentscholarships.org • bcscholarship.ca • Search scholarship sites at various high schools around the city and the province • Check with your employer, community and faith organizations, service groups, etc.

6. Types of Awards/Scholarships • Basic Entrance Scholarships • Major Entrance Scholarships • National Awards • BC Ministry of Education Dogwood Awards • Graduation Program Examinations Scholarships • Passport to Education Awards • Open Awards • Local Awards/Belmont Scholarships

7. Basic Entrance Scholarships • Financial awards based on a student’s academic marks • Calculated on the overall average of the Grade 12 courses required for entrance to a particular faculty (usually offered for grade averages of 85% and higher) • Some require an application, others do not • Some are a one time offer; others are renewable over 4 years

8. Major Entrance Scholarships • Offered by most universities • Highly competitive • Based on merit: • Academic achievement • Community service • Volunteer work • Other accomplishments

9. National Awards • Company Awards – REMax, RBC, Wendy’s, Tim Horton’s, Coast Capital, TD/Canada Trust Leadership Awards, Scotiabank, etc. • Leadership/Service Awards – The Loran Scholarship, Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, Miller-Thompson, Ken Dryden Scholarship, etc.

10. B.C. Ministry of EducationDogwood Awards • The BC Ministry of Education awards $1000 tuition vouchers to students who excel in any of these 6 elective areas: • Physical activity • Second languages • Fine arts • Applied skills • Community Service • Technology and Trades Training • Applications will be available in the Spring • Students have up to 5 years to use the tuition voucher

11. Graduation Program Examinations Scholarships • B.C. students with the highest provincial exam scores can receive one of the following vouchers to use towards their post-secondary tuition: • $1000 (given to 5000 students) • $2500 (given to the top 20 students) Provincial exams: English, Science & Math 10, Socials Studies11/BC First Nations Studies 11, English 12/English 12 First Peoples • Tuition voucher is valid for five years

12. Passport to Education Awards • Grade 10 = $250 • Grade 11 = $250 • Grade 12 = $500 Note: Students must be enrolled in 5 or more courses in a calendar year to be eligible.

13. Open Awards • Offered by various businesses, union affiliations, community organizations, service clubs, etc. Examples: • Coast Capital Credit Union • Co-op Gas • BC Ferries • BC Police Association • BC Cowboy Heritage Society

14. Local Awards/Belmont Scholarships Offered by various donors: • Local community groups, service clubs and businesses • Private and family donors • Local educational groups • Administered by the Belmont Scholarship Society • Applications available in the Spring

15. The Scholarship Application Some applications involve several steps: • organizing & recording basic information • acquiring transcripts & letters of reference • written response(s) i.e.: a personal essay, a summary of accomplishments, etc. Note: The information used on one application, can usually be revised/recycled for another • The earlier you begin, the better.

16. The Application Form • Review the criteria first. Apply for those for which you have a realistic chance. • Follow every step correctly to ensure you have fulfilled the required criteria. • Make note of the deadline. Submit the application in plenty of time. And remember: You can’t receive a scholarship if you don’t apply for it.

17. Additional Elements • Cover letter • Letter(s) of Reference • Transcripts • Interview

18. Belmont Successes - 2013 Scholarship recognition is part of Belmont’s June graduation ceremony. • In June 2013, more than 100 Belmont grads received scholarships and bursaries • The local, provincial, and external scholarships awarded totaled over $150,000. • UVIC alone offered 34 Belmont students $108,000 in entrance scholarships

19. The Belmont Scholarship Society We welcome new donors! Consider establishing a Belmont Scholarship. • We are a registered charitable organization. • Tax receipts are issued for every donation. (You can access the donor contribution forms on the Belmont website. Click on the “Parents” tab, then “Grade 12 Information”, then “Scholarships”.)

20. As the school year progresses… Be aware of upcoming deadlines. Link to the Scholarship Support 12 class website at: http://scholarship12dl.weebly.com/ or access it via the Belmont website at http://belmont.sd62.bc.ca/