BC Food Protection Association Scholarship Award

We recognize it takes a combination of both hard work and educational funding for students to achieve their goal of a post-secondary education. That's why we've developed a scholarship fund to help encourage student funding and interest in food protection in BC.

For 2008, scholarships are available in the amounts of $1500 and $500 to be awarded at our AGM in December to two BCFPA student members who meet the criteria. Students selected to receive scholarship awards are expected to attend our AGM on December 1, 2008.

To be considered for the scholarship awards, please fill out the application form and e-mail your application and essay to the BCFPA Secretary at secretary@bcfpa.net. Applications will be accepted starting September 15, 2008 and no later than November 3rd, 2008.

Eligibility:

Applicants must be:

• Current Student Members of the BC Food Protection Association.
• Reside or study in BC.
• Enrolled in a field of study related to food in a university, community college or technical institute. These programs may include, but not be limited to Food Science, Food Technology, Nutrition, Agrology, Environmental Health Programs and various Postgraduate level degree granting programs.
• Currently in a program, registered for a program beginning in the Fall of the year of application.

Please note that Student membership fees with the BC Food Protection Association are $15 per year; students who are not currently members may submit their scholarship application concurrently with their membership application and fee. Membership applications are available on our Membership Info Page.

Application Requirements:

For the selection process the applicant must provide the following:

• A copy of their most recent transcript (official copies not required);
• Two letters of reference - must be done by persons from your work/school/volunteer experience; if the cannot be scanned and submitted with your e-mailed submission, fax separately but ensure that your name is on the document.
• A brief outline of your experiences in the food industry- these could be hobby related, volunteer time, or work experience;
• A brief description of your career aspirations; and,
• A five (5) paragraph essay - details below.

Essay Criteria:

• Each applicant may submit only one essay to the competition.
• The essay must be a minimum of 5 paragraphs (introduction, 3 paragraphs and a concluding paragraph), minimum of 1000 words, up to a maximum of 2000 words, NOT including references, tables or photo captions.
• Essays must be based on any one of the three topics listed below, and are expected to contain current information.
• Essays should define the issue or statement, discuss the issues/points made with examples or technical references to back up any statements or experience and then conclude summarizing any recommendations or goals reached in the essay.
• Essays will be graded on content, organization, grammar, and originality.
• Essays should be double-spaced, with a minimum of 12 pt font, preferably in Times New Roman or Arial.
• Essays submissions should be made in MS Word or WordPerfect and submitted electronically with the application form to the BCFPA Secretary at the following e-mail address: secretary@bcfpa.net
• For technical content there should be a minimum of 3 references, with at least one reference from a peer-reviewed journal. Internet references must be cited and be from reputable sources.
• References must be written in the Harvard System of Citation (name and date system). The following sites will assist you in creating citations using the Harvard system:
  
  Anglia Ruskin University
  Thames Valley University
  The University of Western Australia



• Any essay found with plagiarized material will be eliminated from the competition.
• No substitutions will be made for the essay topics below.

Topics:

1. Why have you chosen a career in the food industry?
2. What do you feel the future challenges will be for the food industry?
3. What role does personnel hygiene play in the food industry? - discuss the factors that affect it and how can it be improved.

Additional Information:

• Successful applicants will be notified two weeks before the AGM.
• All personal information will be kept confidential.
• Winning applicants will be expected to be present to receive their award at the BC Food Protection Association Annual General Meeting.
• Successful applicants will be required to verify student enrollment.
• All entries will be considered the property of the BC Food Protection Association.
• Scholarship recipients ( name, city, institution and program of study) and their essays may be published in "The Grapevine", the BCFPA newsletter.
• Judges decisions are final.