Scholarships & Bursaries

In the wake of COVID-19, we will temporarily accept references in the following formats:

Referee can mail directly through Canada Post to our office
- 201-9030 King George Boulevard Surrey, BC V3V 7Y3
Referee can drop off in person or have someone drop off – slip it under the office door (office is temporarily closed for public access) however, we will continue to collect letters/mail delivered that way. We are asking the referee and/or student to send an email as notification of delivery if they plan on doing this.
- 201-9030 King George Boulevard Surrey, BC V3V 7Y3
- Surrey Teacher’s Association address above and see email: reception@surreyteachers.org

Referee letters can be directly emailed to reception@surreyteachers.org – kindly use a professional email address only.
- Teacher-referees should use their work email address e.g. bir_j@surreyteachers.ca
It is recommended the Referee inform student-candidate when and how their reference has been delivered to the STA so that the student can ensure their application is complete.

Please provide three confidential references. One from each of the following areas:

academic achievement reference
school-based extracurricular involvement reference
community involvement reference

*Please note that references from family members or friends will not be accepted.

Additional Information:

An incomplete or late awards application will not be considered.
Applicants are responsible for submitting all required documentation with their awards application.
Applicants are responsible for ensuring all documents are received by the applicable deadline date.
All applicants are notified of decisions in writing.

Each year, the Surrey Teachers’ Association awards scholarships, bursaries and the Jennifer Wadge Memorial Social Justice Award.

The Surrey Teachers’ Association Awards Committee is elected each year at the June STARA meeting. The committee is comprised of six elected members-at-large and the STA Second Vice-President, who serves as chair of the committee. The committee will meet early in September and in the spring to select award recipients. The awards to STA members’ children will be presented at the October STARA Meeting.

We encourage applicants to apply for all awards for which they feel they meet the criteria, although an individual is only eligible to receive one of the awards.

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic performance and school and community involvement. Bursaries will be awarded based on financial need and school and community involvement. All applicants must provide proof of acceptance to a post-secondary institution. The committee meets to award scholarships to children of members who have just graduated from any public high school in June.

Scholarships for Children of STA Members

Who is eligible: Applicants must be graduating children of STA members active during the applicants graduating school year.
Award Denominations: Six awards of $2,000 each
Deadline for application: September 17, 2021
Awarded in October 2021
Complete the Surrey Teachers’ Association Awards Application (Application Form for children of STA Members).

Bursaries for Children of STA Members

Who is eligible: Applicants must be graduating children of STA members active during the applicants graduating school year.
Award Denominations: Six awards of $2,000 each
Deadline for application: September 17, 2021
Awarded in October 2021
Complete the Surrey Teachers’ Association Awards Application (Application Form for children of STA Members).

Bursaries for Indigenous Students

Who is eligible: Open to any current Grade 12 student at a Surrey public secondary school during the 2019/2020 school year who identifies as an Indigenous Student
Award Denominations: Two awards of $2,000 each
Deadline for application: May 18, 2021
Awarded in June 2021
Complete the Surrey Teachers’ Association Indigenous Student Awards (Application Form for Surrey Students).

Jennifer Wadge Social Justice Award

Jennifer Wadge was the President of the Surrey Teachers’ Association from 2012 until her untimely death in 2015. She was a graduate of Surrey public schools and taught at a number of elementary schools in Surrey. She was a dedicated and passionate supporter of teachers and students, she championed social activism, and she believed whole-heartedly in the importance of an adequately funded public education system. She was known for her clear thinking, her articulate incisive views, her composed demeanour, and her passion for the issues. Jennifer was deeply committed to the principles of social justice, seeing them as a cornerstone of our work in an equitable society.

The Jennifer Wadge Memorial Social Justice Award was created to commemorate our former president, Jennifer Wadge, and honour her commitment to the social justice values of our union. There are six awards of $2,000 each (two for graduating children of STA members and four for students graduating from Surrey schools). These awards will be conferred on the the applicant’s involvement in social justice work in the school based on community, and their written statement of commitment to social justice issues.

Jennifer Wadge Memorial Social Justice Award for Children of STA Members

Who is eligible: Applicants must be graduating children of STA members active during the applicants graduating school year.
Award Denominations: Two awards of $2,000 each
Deadline for application: September 17, 2021
Awarded in October 2021
Complete the Surrey Teachers’ Association Awards Application (Application Form for children of STA Members).

Jennifer Wadge Memorial Social Justice Surrey Student Awards

Who is eligible: Open to any current Grade 12 student at a Surrey public secondary school during the 2019/2020 school year.
Award Denominations: Four awards of $2,000 each
Deadline for application: May 18, 2021
Awarded in June 2021
Complete the Jennifer Wadge Memorial Social Justice Open Awards (Application Form for Surrey Students).