DIDSBURY - Starting this school year, town council will decide on a year-to-year basis how much the municipality will hand out under its Didsbury High School Scholarship Award Policy, marking a change from the previous procedure where a set amount was allocated.
Council approved the new scholarship award Policy #010-24 at a recent, regularly-scheduled council meeting.
Approved in 2013, the original Policy #010 set the scholarship award at $1,500 per year, which was increased to $2,000 in 2024.
“Administration is recommending that the policy be changed to remove mention of the dollar amount in the event council changes the award,” chief administrative officer Ethan Gorner said in a briefing note to council.
The change will help streamline the scholarship approval process, he told council.
Council approved the new scholarship policy, which calls for council to set the amount of the scholarship annually during budget deliberations. The policy does not set any minimum or maximum allocation amount.
Under the new policy, scholarships will continue to be awarded to a student who is a resident of the town of Didsbury and in the final year of high school.
“The award will be presented to a graduating Grade 12 student who demonstrates good attitude, who is involved in extra-curricular activities, shows enthusiasm and initiative, had demonstrated involvement in volunteer community activities, and exhibits leadership qualities,” the policy states.
Council will continue to select the scholarship winner during a closed meeting session.
As well as approving the new policy, councillors also rescinded the former Policy #010.
