JOHN K. NIKEL MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP south
APPLICATION Guidelines 2010
SPECIFIC TO:
Current Grade 12 students or individuals who graduated from high school in 2009. Applicants MUST reside in the southern portion of the Province of Alberta. This includes the City of Red Deer and all points south.
AMOUNT, NUMBER AND TIMING OF THE SCHOLARSHIP:
The John K Nikel Memorial Scholarship is valued at $2500. One scholarship will be awarded annually at the final awards of the Alberta International Band Festival.
OVERVIEW:
In 1971, Mr. John Nikel had a vision for a band festival that would provide an opportunity for young Albertans to perform and learn in a positive, educational environment. This vision resulted in the first Alberta International Band Festival (then the Alberta Stage Band Festival) with 8 jazz bands performing in the first year. Now, some 39 years later, the Festival annually hosts more than 300 school and community concert and jazz bands in Edmonton and Calgary and is recognized for its commitment to education through world-class adjudicators and excellent performance venues. In keeping with the original vision of Mr. Nikel, the festival continues to be managed by volunteers, mostly band directors, in both Edmonton and Calgary as a not-for-profit venture.
Mr. Nikel passed away on January 11, 2008, leaving a huge legacy of support for the Arts in Alberta. Mr. Nikel continued to advocate tirelessly for music education, particularly band programs in schools until the end. The John K. Memorial Nikel Scholarship has been established as a legacy of this commitment. This scholarship will assist a young Albertan with aspirations of being a band director to pursue their post-secondary studies.
ELIBILITY CRITERIA:
All applicants MUST meet the following criteria:
- Be a resident of Alberta and reside in Southern Alberta (including the City of Red Deer and all points south).
- Be a current grade 12 student or have graduated from high school in 2009.
- Demonstrate a strong desire to become a band director.
- Be entering a post-secondary institution in the fall of 2010 in a faculty and program appropriate for becoming a band director
(most likely music) - Submit a 250-500 word essay, clearly outlining why the applicant wishes to pursue a career as a band director.
- Have a strong academic record.
- Provide three letters of reference. At least one of these MUST be from a music teacher.
- Demonstrate potential for success, strong citizenship qualities and leadership ability through these reference letters.
APPLICATION AND SELECTION PROCESS:
Each year, prior to the Alberta International Band Festival, application forms and related materials will be made available to band directors and potential candidates via email and on the AIBF website. Applicants will be required to submit their applications so they are received by the assigned deadline each year.
The successful applicant will be selected based on the strength of his/her application by the AIBF Scholarship Selection Committee. The decision of the Committee will be final.
AWARD DISBURSEMENT:
SThe successful applicant will be notified by telephone and in writing. A certificate of acknowledgement will be presented to the recipient at the Awards Ceremony for the Alberta International Band Festival in Calgary on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at the Rozsa Centre, University of Calgary.
The scholarship itself will be paid when proof of registration in an appropriate post-secondary institution for the fall of 2010 has been received by the Alberta International Band Festival. The scholarship monies will be paid directly to the post-secondary institution towards tuition and fees. In all matters concerning the eligibility and payment, the decision of the AIBF Scholarship Committee shall be final.
DOWNLOAD John K. Nikel Memorial Scholarship South Application Form
residents of calgary AND AREA MUST remit applications NO LATER THAN friday, February 5, 2010.
SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION TO:
The John K. Nikel Memorial Scholarship
c/o Mr. Kevin Willms
William Aberhart High School
3009 Morley Trail NW
Calgary, Alberta T2M 4G9