WINDOWS Magazine Summer 2017 | Page 40

WINDOWS | TRAINING AUSTRALIAN WINDOW ASSOCIATION 2018 SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM T he Australian Window Association (AWA) Scholarship is a one year, non-renewable scholarship of $2,500 towards a trade, engineering, technical or design field of study or apprenticeship that is relevant to the Australian window industry. It can only be applied to the year of the award. All recipients of AWA Scholarships are ineligible for future awards. The scholarship may be used at an y accredited college, university or vocational technical institution in Australia. The funds awarded by this scholarship will be first applied to tuition and fees. Any balance will be applied to room, board, books, supplies and incidental expenses. THE PURPOSE The AWA Scholarship Program was established to provide the families of employees of AWA members with an opportunity to obtain financial aid for higher education and to encourage the growth of the building products industry. This scholarship was also established to indirectly support educational institutions nationwide. ELIGIBILITY To be eligible, students must intend to commence tertiary or vocational study at any level of university, accredited non-profit college or vocational technical institution in 2018, in an engineering, technical or associated diploma, degree, or trade focused on the design or construction of buildings, or building products related to the fenestration industry. Students must be dependent children of employees of AWA member companies in good standing. The member company employee (applicant’s parent or legal guardian) must be employed full time by the member for at least one year prior to 1 January, 2018, and must still be employed by the member at the time the winner is selected. Families of the AWA’s Board of Directors and staff are not eligible. APPLICATION PROCEDURE The application form is available on the AWA website: www.awa.org.au/members/ awa-scholarship-program The application deadline is Wednesday, 31 January, 2018. The scholarship will be awarded by Tuesday, 27 February, 2018. THE ESSAY The application includes an essay, which should be 500 words or less in length. Applicants are asked to describe why they want to pursue an engineering, technical or design course focused on the building product industry. RESPONSIBILITIES OF RECIPIENTS Scholarship recipients must enrol as full-time students in 2018 and continue study for the entire academic year. Disruption of study due to illness, emergency or exceptional circumstances must be approved by the AWA. Scholarship recipients are responsible for making certain that their scholarship payments are delivered to the institution in which they are enrolled. SELECTION OF WINNERS An impartial Selection Committee, composed of educators, will meet in February to select a winner. In selecting the winner, applications are judged on academic merit, including the essay portion, in addition to Year 12 Scores and Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR), plus any related coursework. PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP FUNDS Payment of the AWA Scholarship will be made as follows: Beginning 1 March, 2018, or prior to the start of the first semester, the award amount will be paid in one instalment. Cheques will be made payable to the institution of choice and mailed to the scholarship winner or alternatively direct bank credit will be made through the AWA office. PROGRAM ADMINISTRATION The program is currently administered by the AWA secretariat with the monies securely invested. To ensure complete impartiality in the selection of the winner and to maintain a high level of professionalism, the panel of selectors will be convened by the AFTI National Training Manager and will be independent of the AWA Board of Directors. EXTENDING THE BENEFITS As an AWA member, you can choose to make a financial contribution towards the AWA Scholarship Program. These contributions allow the AWA to offer multiple awards each year. You can also participate in the AWA Scholarship Partner Program, which allows your company to establish its own scholarship award amount and eligibility requirements and AWA will provide administration of the program. Contact the AWA on 02 9498 2768 to get involved. ENTRIES CLOSE 31 JANUARY, 2018. 38 Summer 2017