Scholarship Program

In 2011, the CHS was pleased to award $4,000 scholarships / bursaries to three outstanding applicants. The award categories are as follows:

• scholarship based on academic merit
• bursary based on financial need
• mature student bursary

The CHS would like to acknowledge Pfizer for their generous support of the 2011 CHS James Kreppner Memorial Scholarship and Bursary Program.

Please note that the mature student bursary is for students returning to or beginning a course of studies at any post secondary or vocational institution.

The program is open to Canadians with hemophilia (factor VIII or IX) or another inherited bleeding disorder (such as von Willebrand disease, a rare factor deficiency or platelet function disorder), carriers, and those who contracted HIV through a blood transfusion. Spouses and children of the above mentioned people may also apply. Those who have received a CHS Scholarship or Bursary are not eligible to reapply for continued support.

Specific criteria and applications for each program have been included. Section I includes information for the scholarship and bursary programs and Section II includes information for the mature student bursary program.

All applicants will be reviewed by a committee of academics and lay persons whose decisions shall be final.

Information and additional application forms can be obtained from the CHS National Office (Toll-free at 1-800-668-2686 or e-mail at chs@hemophilia.ca), chapters and hemophilia clinics.

The deadline for submission of completed applications and supporting documents is April 30, 2012. All applications and supporting documents (except for transcripts of final grade twelve or thirteen marks) should be submitted to:

Canadian Hemophilia Society
Scholarship and Bursary Program
400-1255, University Street
Montreal, Quebec  H3B 3B6

General Criteria for Scholarships and Bursaries
1. Applicants must possess academic standards sufficient to allow admission into the post-secondary educational institution and program to which the scholarship or bursary would be applied.

2. Applicants must provide three (3) letters of reference with their application, none of which may be from a relative. Such letters should attest to the abilities and suitability of the candidate for the Program being applied for as well as act as a character reference for the candidate. Suitable referees might be a principal, teacher, coach, employer or clergyman. One of the letters should be related to the candidate's community service.

3. The applicant must provide a separate letter from his/her physician or some medical authority confirming their medical status regarding eligibility to this program (or that of their spouse or parent). This is in addition to the three letters of reference.

4. A demonstration of experience in community service at the volunteer level and some leadership qualities. Such experience should be indicated on the application form. As one of the goals of the CHS Scholarship and Bursary Program is to develop volunteers for the organization, particular attention will be paid to applicants whose community service includes volunteering for CHS at the national, chapter or regional levels.

5. The presentation of clear, logical thinking and adequate writing skills demonstrated in an essay of 500 words on the impact that the bleeding disorder, or HIV contracted through the blood supply, has had on the applicant's life. The essay should be type-written and submitted with the application for a scholarship.


Specific Criteria for Scholarships
As scholarships are awarded for academic merit and are generally recognized as such in both the academic and business communities, the successful applicant for the Canadian Hemophilia Society scholarship must meet the following criteria:

1. Superior academic achievement, that being an average of at least 80%, or a GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, upon graduation from secondary school. Transcripts of grades must accompany the application.


Specific Criteria for Bursaries
Recognizing that not all prospective students show outstanding academic achievement in secondary school, and acknowledging the fact that some students find it extremely difficult to afford a post-secondary education, the Canadian Hemophilia Society offers a non-academic bursary to those who meet the following criteria:

1. A demonstration of financial need: the applicants must submit a detailed budget showing their sources of income and their projected expenses for a year of study at the institution of their choice. It is expected that the applicants will provide some monies toward their education.

Recent changes in economic realities have made many Canadians seriously look at new careers. While one could once look forward to a lifelong career in one occupation, now several different and quite distinct jobs might be one’s expectation. In addition, many persons with hemophilia or their spouses have had to leave their field of employment because of illness caused by either HIV, Hepatitis C (HCV), or the stress simply associated with living in a home that has been affected by the trauma of disease. But these changes often mean that further education is desirable or essential. With that in mind, the CHS has established a mature student bursary for those students returning to or beginning a course of studies at any post-secondary institution.

Specific Criteria for Mature Student Bursary

1. A demonstration of financial need: the applicants must submit a detailed budget showing their sources of income and their projected expenses for a year of study at the institution of their choice. It is expected that the applicants will provide some monies toward their education.

2. Proof of age. The applicant must be at least 30 years of age in order to qualify for the mature student bursary.

3. A statement of intent. The applicant must supply a document (a short essay will do) that details what his or her past employment has been, what the proposed career change will offer, and a personal assessment of how the new career will affect the applicant’s lifestyle.

4. Applicants must provide three (3) letters of reference with their application, none of which may be from a relative. Such letters should attest to the abilities and suitability of the candidate for the Program being applied for as well as act as a character reference for the candidate. Suitable referees might be a principal, teacher, coach, employer or clergyman.

5. The applicant must provide a separate letter from his/her physician or some medical authority confirming their medical status regarding eligibility to this program (or that of their spouse or parent). This is in addition to the three letters of reference.