Scholarships: A Student’s Perspective Story

Written by: Kevin Bluck, third-year student in Conestoga’s Public Relations diploma program.

We all know that there are scholarships out there but the hassle of completing the application forms and the self-doubt of whether I am good enough to be chosen is a significant barrier for many students, myself included.

When I finally decided to research what is out there, I was pleasantly surprised. Maybe this wasn’t as intimidating as I originally thought. Most, if not all, post-secondary institutions offer a variety of awards, scholarships and bursaries.

Part of the learning curve was deciphering the terminology used by the Financial Aid Office. Award? A gift, sum of money, or citation given to recognize achievement in some capacity. Bursary? Monetary award based on financial need as determined by Conestoga, may also include a minimum expectation of academic achievement or other miscellaneous criteria. Scholarship? Monetary award based on academic excellence and, in some cases, other forms of earned merit. Academic Grant? Monetary awards based on a combination of merit and financial need.

As a third year Public Relations student at Conestoga College, I applied for and received the First Generation Bursary last year and the Student Assistance Fund this past December.

The money I received certainly helped ease some of the financial burden of coming back to school as a mature student. My post-secondary education has been the largest investment I’ve made to date and probably the most important one.

Find out what’s out there – this can be done online, via email (Conestoga will send you monthly emails about what’s available), and by talking to your program coordinator. There are many program-specific awards administered by individual programs.

“The Financial Aid Office at Conestoga College provides financial support, advice, and services including help with your OSAP application. We'll provide you with information about the hundreds of awards, scholarships, academic grants, and bursaries awarded to our students each year” explains Patrick Bennett, Financial Aid Manager, Conestoga College.
“There is also an emergency aid program designed to help students through difficult financial times, as well as the Conestoga Work Study program, an opportunity that can provide you with a valuable source of revenue throughout the study year.”

Applying for and receiving the First Generation Bursary and the Student Assistance Fund has enabled me to focus on my education while in school and not worry as much about finances. I’m ready to graduate this June with a smaller student loan to pay off and positive career opportunities.

For more information on Conestoga's financial aid programs, please visit their website or connect with Conestoga's Financial Aid & Student Awards (519) 748-5220 ext. 3378