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 Strathcona Minor Hockey "Beyond the boards" Scholarship

The Strathcona Warriors “Beyond the Boards” Scholarship recognizes and rewards a SMHA player or referee that has shown a commitment to minor hockey in Strathcona County, exemplifies the SMHA values and has committed to continue post-secondary education. Recipients may only be awarded the scholarship once.

Value

Up to three scholarships of $2500 may be awarded annually.

Deadlines

Applications are accepted from February 1 - May 31 of each year, to be awarded by June 30.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

  • Be current members of Strathcona Minor Hockey Association (SMHA), including AA or AAA players who were registered with SMHA and are playing AA or AAA outside of SMHA during the application year and/ or are current referees within Strathcona who meet all other criteria
  • Have a minimum of six combined years of playing experience within SMHA, which may include time with Josephburg Minor Hockey or Tofield Minor Hockey
  • Be participating in U18, U21, or Rec League programs in the application year and be between the ages of 17–21 years old
  • Demonstrate ongoing involvement within SMHA through roles such as coaching, refereeing, volunteering at tournaments, participating in the First Shift program, or other forms of community support
  • ​​​​​​​Be enrolled and accepted for full time studies at an Eligible Alberta Post-Secondary Institution or provincial equivalent if studying outside of Alberta
  • Be members in good standing with SMHA at the time of both application and award​​​​​​​ 
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How to Apply

  • Applicants must submit a written letter demonstrating how they embody SMHA’s core values of leadership, sportsmanship, and community involvement, it should include:
    • why the applicant is a strong candidate for the scholarship, and
    • outline how the applicant meets the criteria of the scholarship
  • Applications should include the following supporting documents:
    • a letter of recommendation from a current or former SMHA coach or Referee in Charge
    • a personal reference from a teacher, employer, or similar, who can speak to the applicant’s character and contributions to their school or broader community
    • proof of enrollment in a designated post-secondary institution for the upcoming academic year
  • All personal identifiers in application materials will be redacted for impartial review by the selection committee

Email packages to the SMHA Secretary at smha_secretary@smhahockey.com by May 31

Selection and Notification

  • Applications will be screened by the Secretary and General Manager to confirm good standing in the association
  • A committee of the SMHA Board will review and recommend recipients for selection. Final recipients will be ratified by the SMHA Executive
  • Penalty minutes and suspensions may be considered during the evaluation process
  • The committee reserves the right to conduct interviews with shortlisted candidates as part of the final selection process
  • Successful recipients will be notified by June 30