Scholarships & Bursaries
Empowering our students and adult learners
Regional Opportunities for Local Learners
The MD values education, and offers scholarships and bursaries each year to encourage local students to pursue further educational opportunities, and to enhance the ability of young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities. Recent grads and mature students alike are strongly encouraged to apply.
Rugged & Real Scholarship
The MD’s Rugged & Real Scholarship helps local students and adult learners achieve their post-secondary education goals.
Each year, the MD proudly offers the Rugged & Real Scholarship to empower the next generation of local leaders in their academic pursuits. This $1,000 scholarship may be awarded to up to three exceptional students within the municipal boundaries who are preparing to attend post-secondary institutions in the coming year.
Council evaluates applications based on merit, encouraging both recent graduates and mature students to apply. Seasonal MD staff residing outside Lesser Slave River are also eligible.
Important dates for the Rugged & Real Scholarship include the opening of applications each spring, with the submission deadline also announced at that time. Applications are reviewed, and scholarships are awarded in late summer.
Entries for the 2025-26 Rugged & Real Scholarship must be received by June 27, 2025.
- 2024-2025 Rugged & Real Scholarship Application
- Policy CL-11-03 — Rugged & Real Post Secondary Scholarship
Any MD Employee Can Apply
If you don’t reside in Lesser Slave River, you can still apply for the Rugged & Real Scholarship if you're employed by the MD.
Important Dates:
- Applications for the Rugged & Real Scholarship open spring of each year.
- The 2025-26 application deadline is June 27, 2025.
- Applications are reviewed, and scholarships are awarded in late summer.
Recipients of 2024-25 Rugged & Real Scholarship
Council and Administration congratulate Katarina Holden, Ashton Larson, and Sarah Ramer for claiming this year’s Rugged & Real Scholarships.
Katarina hails from Widewater, and plans to pursue her Pre-Employment Carpenter certificate at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology. Ashton leaves Marten Beach for the University of Calgary where he will study for his Bachelor of Communications. Sarah, from Smith, will work on her Graduate Certificate in Educational Studies, specializing in Structured Literacy and Reading Science at the University of Alberta.
The MD wishes every success to these three students as they embark on their academic journeys.
Other Regional Grant Funding Opportunities
AHS/NADC Joint Bursary Partnership Program
Alberta Health Services (AHS) & the Northern Alberta Development Council (NADC) are proud to offer this unique bursary opportunity. AHS and the NADC match between $1,000 and $3,000 per student up to a total of $6,000 per year for each recipient in exchange for a return of service within northern Alberta.
LSWC Elliott & Rosche Memorial Bursary
Lesser Slave Watershed Council (LSWC) co-founders Brian Elliott and Brian Rosche will be memorialized through the recipient of this annual bursary. Brian Rosche served as Councillor for the MD of Lesser Slave River from his election in 2005 until his untimely passing on August 16, 2020.
The $1,000 bursary will be awarded to a watershed resident furthering education in environmental and watershed related topics. The successful applicant will be a post-secondary student pursuing environmental sciences, biology, earth sciences, or a water-focused program.
Northern Alberta Development Council Bursary Program
Through the Northern Alberta Development Bursary, students can receive up to $11,500 per year to cover their post-secondary education expenses. This program provides funding for a wide range of learning opportunities, ranging from certificates and diplomas to bachelor’s, master’s or PhD programs. This will help retain talent in northern Alberta and empower the next generation of workers to pursue high-paying, quality careers.
Applications are accepted from January 2 to April 30 of each year for schooling in the fall of the same calendar year.
RMA Post-Secondary Scholarship Program
Recognizing the importance of an educated population to the future well-being of rural communities, the RMA Scholarship Program is designed to encourage young rural Albertans to pursue further education, and thereby enhance the ability of these young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities in subsequent years. RMA provides funding assistance to five rural students each year (one student in each of the five RMA geographic districts).
Rugged & Real
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