Awards & Scholarships

Related: See the complete listing of current awards and scholarships 

  2009 - 2010 Awards and Scholarship Booklet

Conferring a scholarship or award will help students reach their academic and career goals. The Community Relations staff will work with you to establish an award that best suits your interest and financial situation. Donation and award amounts vary. As a donor, you may name the award after yourself, your company or as a memorial. You set the criteria, such as financial need, academic standing, or community involvement – whatever best suits your wishes. Some awards may be matched by the Alberta Government to increase the number of RDC students who benefit.

RDC’s Growing Need for Scholarships and Awards

During the 2003-2004 academic year, 29 new scholarships were established, thanks to the contributions of corporations, foundations, associations and individuals. With the increasing number of students entering programs at RDC and to growing cost of post-secondary education, the need for scholarship support has never been greater.

This year the need for student assistance is urgent.

Applications to enter the College are up as more and more people recognize that education and training can change their lives by allowing them to earn more and be more productive citizens. And they are choosing RDC as the high-quality, affordable route to university and long-term careers.

Although tuition fees have increased at post-secondary educational institutions throughout Alberta, the College is committed to the Alberta Opportunities Bursary Program that provides financial support to help our students. We know that the rising costs of living coupled with the cost of education is having a serious impact on some of our students. In fact, our Students Funding and Awards office administers an emergency bursary program for students in need. Last year over $46,000.00 was disbursed to aide students in crisis so they could stay in College.

RDC awards are established for students in the form of academic awards, scholarships and bursaries.

Types of Awards

Academic Award - An award (cash or gift-in-kind) given in recognition of excellence in academic achievement.

Scholarship - An award (cash or gift-in-kind) given in recognition of excellence in academic achievement in combination with involvement or service in College/community-related endeavors or other conditions as established by the donor.

Bursary - A cash award given on the basis of financial need and satisfactory academic achievement.

Funding an Award From Endowed or Annual Funds

Through the RDC Foundation, awards may be funded either annually or through an endowment. 

Annually Funded Award - You may choose to pledge annually to a scholarship with a commitment from the donor to supply the award amount for a minimum of three years. Suggested minimum value of annual award is $500. Donors are contacted annually (March/April) with a letter reporting on the annual award. It will also include a statement for payment of current year award, confirmation of wording for next academic year. An invitation to meet your student award recipient at the Student Awards recognition event in November is also included. Tax receipt issued annually when payment received.

Endowed Award - An endowment can be established in your name (or that of a friend or family member) for a minimum donation of $10,000 which can be pledged over several years. An endowment is essentially a trust fund responsibly invested and managed by the Foundation. The interest generated by the endowment, less a small percentage reinvested in the fund, is annually awarded in perpetuity.

With a named endowment you can establish the terms of your fund. You may select a scholarship, bursary or award and assist students in a specific program or specific area. Unrestricted endowments allow us the flexibility to assist students where the current need is greatest.

Donors are contacted annually (September/October) with statement of endowment earnings over past fiscal year and confirmation of award wording for upcoming academic year. An invitation to meet your student award recipient at the Student Awards recognition event in November is also included. Tax receipt issued upon receipt of donation (endowment principal).

Tax Receipts

Donors receive a charitable tax receipt from RDC for the value of their donation.

To give now toward Scholarships and Awards, or for further information, please contact Erin Schulha, Awards and Scholarship Advisor at 403.357.3647 or email.