By Sarah Bartlett, BCMM-PR
I’m proud to say that I was once a recipient of the Canadian Public Relations Society (CPRS) Calgary Legacy Scholarship. I applied for the Scholarship as a second-year public relations student at Mount Royal University (MRU).
The Scholarship was beneficial in not only providing financial support while I completed my degree at MRU, but also in helping me stand out when applying for internships. The Scholarship also gave me the opportunity to network with other communications and public relations professionals within CPRS.
Writing a short essay for the application process also allowed me to further develop my research and writing skills, as well as demonstrate my understanding of the established principles in public relations and communications. If you’re in your second year of study and interested in pursuing a career in public relations and communications, I would highly recommend applying to this Scholarship.
The application process
The CPRS Calgary Legacy Scholarship is awarded to a second-year student studying Communications or Public Relations. The application process for the Scholarship includes completing a two-page written submission on a topic selected by CPRS Calgary. Applicants must also submit their curriculum vitae, a letter of support from their school and the Scholarship application form. The deadline to submit your Scholarship package for this year is on May 1, 2021.
Value I received from winning the Scholarship
I’m grateful for winning the Scholarship as it supported me financially in completing my degree at MRU. Secondly, winning the award also helped me in securing an internship for my post-secondary work experience requirement. When you’re starting out in your career, particularly in public relations and communications, it’s nice to be able to build your resume by including a Scholarship from a respected and recognized organization such as CPRS Calgary.
Why students should apply
Lastly, I would encourage students to apply for this Scholarship because it will give you the chance to build your knowledge of the communications and public relations profession. For instance, every written submission for the Scholarship involves answering a topic given by the CPRS Calgary Society on codes of ethics or on the practical elements of public relations. In completing the written submission, you will learn more about the profession and its values. You may not win the Scholarship, but you’ll gain more knowledge of the principles of public relations and communications which will be helpful down the road in navigating through your career.
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By Celine Copeland
My name is Celine Copeland, I am a recent graduate of the Mount Royal University (MRU) Public Relations program and a proud recipient of the 2018 CPRS Calgary Legacy Scholarship. I graduated from MRU in November 2020 and am searching for my first entry-level position.
Applying for the CPRS Calgary Legacy Scholarship is very straightforward and is completed over a short time. In order to be considered for the scholarship, you are required to submit your resume, a completed application form that includes your name, school/program information, a proof of enrolment letter from your university and a two-page essay on a specific topic. In your application, I recommend sharing what public relations experience you have had to date (volunteer or paid), future career goals and what you have learned in your public relations program thus far.
As I wrote the scholarship essay, I applied concepts learned in the MRU classroom, but I also related the scholarship topic to my own life experiences. The scholarship judges want to see your commitment to the profession and willingness to learn and grow. If you cannot think of a personal example, try applying the Code of Ethics to situations you have heard in the media as this can help prove a point and give validity to an argument. I went a step further in my essay and sought out sources to cite and used my public relations textbooks as key resources. Lastly, the most important part is double-checking your application including spelling and grammar. To increase readability, have someone such as a professor review your essay before submitting it.
I greatly appreciate the support of organizations like the Communications + Public Relations Foundation. In addition to receiving $1,000, CPRS Calgary also provides a student membership for your third year of university and a complimentary registration for a CPRS (Calgary) event. The Foundation also writes a news release about you and it is published by Cision Newswire. A student membership is valued at 79 dollars, but the true value is found in the people you can meet at events. Meeting public relations professionals from a variety of industries and at different stages of their careers is essential as a student. As a result of receiving this scholarship, I got to attend the 2018: Annual General Meeting, Professional Speed-Networking and Passport to PR YYC.
In my four-year degree, I never regretted applying for a scholarship. Yes, sometimes the application process can take time, but it is worthwhile. Receiving this scholarship helps you stand out when applying to jobs and volunteer opportunities. Having this scholarship on my resume has started conversations and opened doors for me.
I strongly encourage you to apply for the CPRS Calgary Legacy Scholarship or the Susan Francis Prize by May 1, 2021.
