Young curlers with aspirations both on and off the ice can now apply for Curling Canada’s For the Love of Curling scholarship program to help make those dreams come true.
The program will award 11 scholarships of $2,500 each to student curling athletes in Canada who best demonstrate athletic and academic prowess, along with community leadership and volunteerism.
Recent scholarship recipients have included PEI’s Lauren Ferguson and Lauren Lenentine.
Nine competitors at the 2022 New Holland Canadian Under-21 Championships are past recipients of the For the Love of Curling Scholarship. From left, back, Nathan Young, Jaedon Neuert, Dylan Neipage, Johnson Tao, Jordon McDonald. Front, from left, Lauren Rajala, Lauren Ferguson, Taylour Stevens, Jamie Smith. (Photo, Curling Canada/Michael Burns)
“We’re so proud to once again provide $27,500 in funding to the next group of young curlers striving to make a difference in their communities through their passion for the sport and through their contributions in society,” said Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson and member of the selection committee. “It’s always exciting to look through these applications and see how so many young people are dedicated to curling and are finding new ways to elevate the game in their communities.”
The selection committee will emphasize athletes who have competed at the provincial/territorial level or higher, who have maintained a good level of academic standing while showing a solid commitment to their community through involvement in leadership volunteer activities. Athletes must be under 22 years old or younger as of Dec. 31, 2022, and have not previously received the scholarship.
Applicants will write a personal essay that reflects on how being a curling athlete, and a member of their curling community has shaped who they are today; and how those experiences, connections and shared values continue to inspire their continued curling journey both on and off the ice.
Ten scholarships have been funded and awarded to young curlers through Curling Canada’s philanthropic programs and initiatives in previous years. Again, this year, the Governor General’s Curling Club —an honourary society under the patronage of the Governor General of Canada since 1874 — presents an 11th $2,500 scholarship, financially supported by donations from its membership.
“The Governor General’s Curling Club is proud to once again be able to sponsor a curling scholarship through donations from its members,” said Graham Harris, President of the Governor General’s Curling Club. “It is our pleasure and privilege to sponsor a curling scholarship for a young talented, aspiring student-athlete, to support his or her educational and curling goals. Our hope is that this scholarship will promote the next generation of leadership for our sport.”
A seven-person selection panel will determine the 11 scholarship recipients. The panel includes a make-up of past scholarship recipient, Curling Canada Board of Governors’ representation and Curling Canada CEO Katherine Henderson.
This season, nine previous For the Love of Curling scholarship recipients competed at 2022 New Holland Canadian Junior Curling Championships.
The application process runs from May 1 to June 30, 2022. Curling Canada will announce the recipients in August 2022.
For more information, or to apply, CLICK HERE.
Click to read at Curling Canada: https://www.curling.ca/blog/2022/05/02/2022-youth-curling-scholarships/