The CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship
The CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship Presented by Hudl is a collaboration that recognizes student-athletes who have contributed to the betterment of their community. The goal of the program is to identify civic leaders within the CCAA and provide them with financial support while recognizing and encouraging their endeavours.
Beginning with the 2021-22 season, the CCAA and Hudl selected six recipients based on their extra-curricular initiatives in their communities. Each recipient received a $1,000 scholarship to support their personal and professional development.
Hudl is the Official Video Analysis and Exchange Partner of the CCAA and as such provides teams with the best video and statistical analysis resources in the industry. The relationship between the partners has continuously evolved and the Torchbearer Scholarship was seen as the next progression in Hudl’s support for the CCAA’s programs and stakeholders.
Season | Recipient | Institution | Program (with link to story) |
2021-22 | Danielle Groenendijk | Vancouver Island University | Running for Parkinson's |
2021-22 | Foster Brown | Redeemer University | At Risk Youth Mentorship |
2021-22 | Hannah dela Cruz | Douglas College | Special Olympics Soccer Jamboree |
2021-22 | Céline Sterckel | St. Thomas University | School Lunch Program & Basketball NB |
2021-22 | Kevin Szymanek | Red Deer Polytechnic | Central Alberta Youth Basketball Development |
2021-22 | Anne-Sofie Charette | Cégep de Jonquière | Junior Jolibeach Youth Volleyball Development |
2022-23 | Shea Battie | Vancouver Island University | Peace Through Play Initiative |
2022-23 | Amy Danen | Niagara College | 'Get a Meal, Give a Meal' Fundraisers |
2022-23 | Immaculate Adarkwa | Humber College | Dwennimmen Girls Basketball Tournament |
2022-23 | Mahé Rabesa | Champlain College Saint-Lambert | Community Kitchen Workshop |
2022-23 | Gode Katembo | Canadian Mennonite University | MACN & 'Sport Without Boundaries' Initiatives |
2022-23 | Lauren Ens | Canadian Mennonite University | At Risk Community Initiatives |
2023-24 | Zacharie Larivière | Cégèp de Trois Rivières | Intergenerational Connections Initiative |
2023-24 | Paige Gray | Université de Saint-Boniface | MS Walk Winnipeg |
2023-24 | Marlo Rathmann | Keyano College | Wood Buffalo Victim Services |
2023-24 | Mali Gaudreau | Cégep de Sherbrooke | Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign |
2023-24 | Daniel Calvo | St. Thomas University | Global Brigades |
2023-24 | Sarah Hogue | Lakeland College | Girls Beyond Borders |
ELIGIBILITY
The CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship Presented by Hudl welcomes applications from student-athletes who are:
- currently enrolled at a CCAA Member Institution;
- eligible and registered with a CCAA varsity sports team at their institution;
- working as an individual or lead in a community volunteer capacity;
- demonstrating at school, on their sports team, and within the community the attributes of leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship.
APPLICATION TIMELINE | RECIPIENTS RECEIVE | ||
December 1, 2024 | Application Launch | $1,000 Cash Scholarship | |
February 2, 2025 | Application Deadline (9:00 pm PT) | Recognition Award | |
March 31, 2025 | Recipients Informed | Media Coverage | |
April 30, 2025 | Recipients Announced |
SELECTION CRITERIA
Applications will be judged using the following criteria:
- Winners must have organized or led an extraordinary community service activity which has clearly benefited other people and/or their community. The service activity must have been initiated and motivated primarily by the winner themself. The service activity cannot have been done to complete an assignment for school or work or as part of an athletic team’s community outreach initiatives.
- Recipients should:
- demonstrate character qualities such as compassion, dedication, generosity, perseverance, and high moral purpose;
- show initiative, tenacity, and unselfishness in pursuit of their goals;
- accomplish something with inspirational value—something that may inspire others to make a difference; and
- have done more than survive a difficult personal challenge – as their efforts should demonstrate an impact on their community beyond themselves.
- Winners may or may not have received previous recognition for their efforts, but this should not be a motivating factor in their decision to undertake initiatives.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
Please read these requirements carefully before undertaking the application process.
- Applications must be completed and submitted online by the deadline of 9:00 p.m. PT on February 2, 2025 when the system will automatically close.
- Applications must be completed using the online submission platform and will not be accepted via fax, email, postage mail, or another carrier.
- Please contact us well in advance of our deadline for any technical assistance you anticipate needing. We will not accept applications after 9:00 p.m. PT on February 2, 2025.
- Applications must include at least one Letter of Reference and a maximum of three. A Reference should be an adult advocate who has a strong knowledge of the applicant’s activities. Examples of References include teachers/professors, coaches, supervisors, or community leaders. Members of the applicant’s family cannot provide a Letter of Reference. Letters of Reference must answer the following questions:
- What is the relationship between the Reference and the Applicant?
- What service activity did the applicant perform and what was the applicant’s specific leadership role in that activity?
- What obstacles and/or challenges did the applicant overcome while leading this service activity?
- What were the verifiable results of the applicant’s service activity?
- How has the applicant demonstrated character qualities such as leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship?
- Applicants must submit a profile photo of themselves and are permitted to provide supplemental content in support of their submission. Supplemental content should be provided via a weblink and can include additional photos, press releases, videos and testimonials.
- All required application materials, including the Letter(s) of Reference, profile photo and any supplemental content must be included at the time of submission. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
- Contents of the application are considered public information once submitted and should not include private or privileged information.
CONSENT
By applying for the CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship presented by Hudl, each applicant acknowledges reading and understanding all the selection criteria and application requirements published on the CCAA’s website and agrees to observe them. Further, each entrant acknowledges and agrees that as a condition of receiving the scholarship, the selected individual will cooperate in publicizing the CCAA Torchbearer Scholarship Presented by Hudl and will grant rights in the applicant’s materials to the CCAA. Please email Brandon Stone (brandon@ccaa.ca) regarding any questions or concerns related to this application.