Applications now being accepted for 2017 For the Love of Curling scholarships

Young curlers from across the country will once again be able to further their academic and athletic ambitions, thanks to the Curling Canada Foundation’s For the Love of Curling Scholarship program. Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 For the Love of Curling Scholarships, which are funded through the generous support of the Canadian curling community. Ten $1,000 scholarships will be awarded to male and female curlers who best demonstrate athletic and academic prowess as well as community leadership. As well, for the 2017 scholarship campaign only, there will be three additional scholarships — each worth $1,100 — made available to young female curlers, a legacy of the remaining funds from the now-defunct Women’s World Curling Tour. “This is one of my favourite announcements annually because it gets young people engaged and excited about curling, and it demonstrates how supportive our curling community truly is from coast to coast,” said Peter Inch, Chair of the Curling Canada Board of Governors. “We’re well aware of the challenges facing our young athletes, and we’re excited that we’re able to play a role in helping them pursue their curling and scholastic dreams.” 2010 Olympic silver-medallist Cheryl Bernard, who, like Inch, is a member of the selection committee for the scholarships, was a driving force with Anne Merklinger, Karen Purdy and Cathy King on the Women’s World Curling Tour. “We’re all thrilled to see the final legacy of the WWCT being put to such good use,” said Bernard. “Canada’s curling future is bright, but those young athletes need support to train and go to school, and this is a wonderful way to help them achieve their goals.” Both of this past season’s Canadian junior champion skips are past recipients of the For the Love of Curling scholarships. Kristen Streifel, who won bronze for Canada at the 2017 World Juniors in Gangneung, South Korea, was awarded a scholarship in 2015 while Tyler Tardi, who lost a playoff tiebreaker in South Korea, was a recipient last year, as was his vice-skip Sterling Middleton. Another 2016 scholarship awardee, Maxime Blais, won a bronze medal with Northern Ontario at the 2017 Canadian Juniors in Victoria, while 2015 awardee Laura Masters also was a bronze-medallist at the 2017 Canadian Juniors with the Northern Ontario women’s team. All of the 2017 scholarships will be awarded to deserving young athletes, from across Canada, to help post-secondary athletes cover some of their education and curling costs. Emphasis will be placed on athletes who have competed at the provincial/territorial level or higher; who have maintained a good level of academic standing; while showing a commitment to curling through their involvement in coaching, instructing and/or volunteer activities. Athletes must be under the age of 23 as of Dec. 31, 2017 and not have received the For the Love of Curling Scholarship previously. The application process runs from May 8 to June 30, 2017. Scholarships will be awarded in August. For more information or to apply, visit online www.curling.ca/scholarship2017.