RMA Scholarship Program

In recognition of the importance of an educated population to the future well-being of rural communities, the Rural Municipalities of Alberta (RMA) established the RMA Scholarship Program in 1995. The RMA Scholarship Program is designed to encourage young rural Albertans to pursue further education, and thereby enhance the ability of these young people to make meaningful contributions to their communities in subsequent years. A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is presented to one successful applicant from each of the five districts. The 2025 application term closes August 29, 2025.

Value

A scholarship in the amount of $1,000 is presented to one successful applicant from each of the five RMA districts.

Eligibility

An applicant must:

• Be a resident of a municipality, which is a member in good standing with the RMA, including municipal districts, counties, specialized municipalities, and the Special Areas;
• Be registered in his or her first four years of study at a recognized post-secondary institution (i.e. the applicant must not have any previous degrees or diplomas); and
  • Preference will be given to candidates attending a recognized post-secondary institution in Alberta, except in instances where the chosen program of study is not available in Alberta.
• Be pursuing a course of studies of relevance to local government and / or rural communities;
  • This criterion is not intended to restrict eligibility; instead, applicants are invited to explain the relevance of their intended study program within their letter of application.

Application Procedure

The submission packages must include the following items:

• A completed RMA Post-Secondary Scholarship Application form
• A letter from your municipality’s Chief Administrative Office (CAO) providing proof of residency. (To find the contact info for your CAO, visit your municipality’s website.)
• A letter from the applicant, setting out their goals and objectives in pursuing further education, as well as the relevance of their study program to local government and/or rural communities
• High school transcripts if entering their first year of a post-secondary program. Please note, if entering a subsequent year of post-secondary (i.e. second year and beyond), provide transcripts from the most recently completed year of post-secondary (only one set of transcripts is required.).
• Proof of acceptance or enrollment
• A brief resume outlining employment experience, community involvement, volunteer activities, recreational activities, cultural pursuits, etc.

Judging Procedure

All applications will be reviewed by a committee comprised of RMA board members and staff. The successful candidate will be selected based upon a combination of the following criteria:

• Citizenship and community involvement
• Individual letter of application
• Academic performance

Presentation of the Award

The successful candidate will be awarded a cheque in the amount of $1,000 upon receipt of confirmation of registration at a recognized Alberta post-secondary institution.

All interested persons are invited to apply for the RMA Post-Secondary Scholarship by submitting their application through the online form.