PATTY CONKLIN MEMORIAL BURSARY FUND
The Patty Conklin Memorial Bursary Fund whose purpose is to, “encourage eligible candidates to obtain further education at an acceptable educational institution”. The fund is essentially a plan for financial assistance to help pay part of the costs associated with achieving this goal. This assistance is one of the benefits of association with the Showmen’s League of America (Canadian Chapter) and the outdoor amusement industry.”
All applications and information required for the awarding of the Bursary must be sent directly to:
The Patty Conklin Memorial Bursary Selection Committee
P.O Box 22059, RPO Brantford East, Brantford, Ontario N3S 7V1
During 2022 the bursary fund awarded 15 bursaries in the amount of $15,000.00. As of December 31, 2023 there have been 566 bursary applications completed to the tune of $ 297,920.
PURPOSE OF THE FUND
The purpose of the Patty Conklin Memorial Bursary Fund is to encourage candidates to obtain further education at an acceptable educational institution. The fund is established to help pay part of the costs associated with achieving this goal. The fund is sponsored by The Showmen’s League of America
(Canadian Chapter) and the outdoor amusement industry.
ADMINISTRATION OF THE FUND
The fund is administered by the Showmen’s League of America (Ontario Chapter) Foundation. Applicants for a bursary will be chosen by the Patty Conklin Memorial Bursary Selection Committee. This committee is the link between the applicant. the educational institution, the Foundation and the Showmen’s League. All decisions as to the eligibility of the candidate, the amount of the bursary to be awarded, the acceptability of the educations institution and the applied for program, are the sole prerogative of the Selection Committee. The decisions of the committee are final.
HOW THE PLAN WORKS
All completed application forms, required information, certified academic transcripts and other necessary documents relating to the application must be in the hands of the Selection Committee before Sept 10. All applicants will be advised of the results of their application. The bursary is valid for the period of one academic year. Candidates are limited to one bursary from the Fund per academic year. Applicants may apply for an additional bursary in a subsequent year. There is no limit to the number of years that a candidate may apply, as long as the candidate continues to meet the necessary eligibility requirements. All bursaries will be made payable to and sent directly to the Registrar or other appropriate official of the educational institution. Any subsequent refunds from the educational institution are the property of the Fund and will be refunded directly back to the Fund.
VALUE OF THE BURSARY
The amount of the bursary to the applicant is limited by the total funds available for the current academic year, to a maximum of $1000.00.
ELIGIBILITY AND REQUIRED PROOFS OF ELIGIBILITY
The application is conditional on meeting one or more of the listed eligibility categories in Sections I an II and all the requirements of Sections III and IV. An applicant should complete all the categories in Sections I and II.
SECTION 1 – APPLICANTS ASSOCIATED WITH OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY
The applicant may be:
a) a current member of the Showmen’s League of America (Canadian Chapter) with a minimum of five years of good standing in the club, or
b) a person who has worked in the outdoor amusement industry for the past three consecutive seasons, and recommended by two current members of the Club with five years of service.
Documents Required: two letters of recommendation, signed by the member.
SECTION II – CHILDREN OF PERSONS ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTDOOR AMUSEMENT INDUSTRY
The applicant must be the child or ward of:
a) a current member of the Club with five years of good standing in the Club.
Documents Required: parent’s or guardians’s signature on the application form.
OR
b) a person who has worked in the outdoor amusement industry for the past three consecutive seasons, endorsed by two current members of the Club with five years of good standing in the Club. Documents Required: the parent’s or guardian’s signature on the application form and, if required, two letters of recommendation, signed by the members.
OR
c) a deceased current member of the Club with five years of good standing at the Club.
Documents Required: parent’s or guardian’s or executor’s signature on the application form.
OR
d) a person who has retired from the outdoor amusement industry and the applicant’s parent or guardian must have had a minimum of ten years work experience in the industry. The application must be endorsed by two current members of the Club with five years of good standing in the Club.
Documents Required: the parent’s or guardian’s signature on the application form, and, if required, two letters of recommendation , signed by the members.
SECTION Ill – ACADEMIC REQUIREMENT
An applicant must:
a) have been accepted and registered as a full time student that leads to a recognized degree, diploma or certificate from an acceptable educational institution.
Documents Required: proof of acceptance from the stated educational institution.
OR
b) have successfully completed one level of a program leading to a recognized degree, diploma, or certificate and have been accepted and registered, as a full-time student, in the next level of the program. (Note: a student who has failed, must first successfully repeat that year before being eligible to re-apply for an additional bursary).
Documents Required: a certified academic transcript from the stated educational institution showing the previous level’s grades and acceptance and registration in the next level of the stated course.
SECTION IV – OTHER BURSARIES
An applicant may receive scholarships or bursaries from other sources. The exception is a bursary from the Showmen’s League of America (American Chapter) in the current year.
ACCEPTABLE EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS
An acceptable educational institution is defined as one of the following:
a) a university.
b) a community college.
c) a recognized “grant-eligible” program of higher education.
d) some registered vocational schools and programs.
A grant-eligible educations institution is one that is recognized by either federal, provincial or state government as one that qualifies for the granting of either direct government subsidy, grant-in-aid student bursaries or government student loans.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
a) Certified Academic Transcripts: academic transcripts must be the original or be a certified copy of the original and stamped with the official seal of the educational institution. Uncertified photo-copies of transcripts are not acceptable proof for the Committee.
b) Letters of Recommendation: all letters of recommendation should contain a brief summary of the applicant’s or his parent’s or his guardian’s contribution to the outdoor amusement industry and should include the number of years that the applicant, the parent or the guardian has worked in the industry, the people or shows that they have worked for and the recommending member’s reasons for endorsing the application.
APPLICATION FORM FOR THE PATTY CONKLIN MEMORIAL BURSARY FUND
INSTRUCTIONS TO APPLICANTS
a) Please print or type the application form.
b) Check off ALL the categories under which you are eligible to apply for the Bursary.
c) Indicate, where asked, if the necessary required documents are enclosed of if they will be forwarded at a later date. The Committee cannot consider an application until all required documents have been received. d) In the space provided on the back of the application form, include a brief summary of your contribution to the outdoor amusement industry, the Club and our future plans for using the education you are applying for.
e) Download the Application and mail to:
PATTY CONKLIN MEMORIAL BURSARY FUND
P.O. Box 22059 RPO Brantford East
Brantford, Ontario
N37 7V1
Download Application: Patty Conklin Bursary Fund Application (PDF)