415, 8170-50 Street Edmonton, AB  T6B 1E6   Phone: (780) 413-4682 FAX: (780) 440-3341   e-mail: pettherapysociety@telus.net

 VIRGINIA CUMMINGS BURSARY

Dear Friends,

One year ago, the Pet Therapy Society was saddened by the sudden passing of Virginia Cummings, one of the Society’s greatest advocates and benefactors. Although Pet Therapy Society members were informed of her death at the Society’s Annual General Meeting, details of an enduring tribute to honour Virginia’s memory and her service to the Pet Therapy Society had not been finalized at that time.

Today, the Pet Therapy Society after consultation with the Cummings' family is pleased to announce the establishment of the Virginia Cummings Bursary.  The goal of this bursary is to continue to honour Virginia's commitment to animal-assisted therapy and the human-animal bond. This bursary will provide financial assistance to individuals to further their education in related studies.  For a person to qualify for this bursary the following criteria would have to be met:

   -     The applicant must be enrolled in or training in a companion animal related   education course(s) at a government accredited educational institution;

   -     Applicants enrolled in courses that promote the human/animal bond as it pertains to Animal Assisted Therapy would be given preference.

Applications will be reviewed one month before the award by the Bursary Committee to determine the recipient of the bursary. Application forms are available by calling the Pet Therapy Society at (780) 413-4682 or on our website www.pettherapysociety.com Deadline for the 2008 bursary is September 15, 2008. 

We are sending this letter to welcome donations as we look forward to awarding the first bursary at the 2008 Heroes Dinner to be held October 18, 2008.  100% of the donations will be committed to the bursary fund.

With your assistance, we hope this bursary fund will grow so that we can honour Virginia in perpetuity while furthering the opportunities of those who share our goal to encourage therapeutic and mutually beneficial interaction between companion animals and people.

Thank you for any donation you are able to provide.

Sincerely,

Sally Bishop

Chair, Virginia Cummings Bursary Committee

Secretary, Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta

Please click here for a donation form in microsoft format

Please click here for a donation form in pdf format

VIRGINIA CUMMINGS BURSARY

The Virginia Cummings Bursary will be awarded to an undergraduate student who is enrolled in courses which encourage therapeutic and mutually beneficial interaction between companion animals and people. The Virginia Cummings Bursary also recognizes community involvement and volunteer work in addition to academic achievement. Future goals, personal accomplishment and supporting names of reference will also be significant in the overall determination of the bursary recipient. 

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CRITERIA

1.   The Bursary Selection Committee will consider all valid applications and determine the recipient of the sum of five hundred dollars ($500.00). The Committee's decision is final.

2.   Applications are welcome from residents of Canada.

3.   The bursary is limited to those applicants who have completed the first, second orthird year of an undergraduate program which supports animal-assisted therapy and/or encourages therapeutic and mutually beneficial interaction between people and companion animals.

4.   Applicants who have previously received a Virginia Cummings Bursary may not apply for a subsequent bursary.

5.   Official transcripts or authenticated copies from high-school and post-secondary institutions must accompany the applications.

6.   Each applicant must supply two letters of reference. Appropriate contact information with the names, addresses and phone numbers of each reference must be included. The selection committee reserves the right to contact  references.

7.   Incomplete applications will not be considered.

8.   Applicants who want their supporting documents or materials returned must indicate this in writing and include a self-addressed envelope with the application.

The applications must be mailed to the Bursary Selection Committee of the Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta and must be received no later than August 31st of the current year.

Bursary applicants will be notified of the committee decision by OCTOBER 15th.

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Applications may be obtained by writing to:

 

The Bursary Committee                                           or by downloading from the

Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta               PeTS website at:

#415, 8170 - 50 St NW                                               www.pettherapysociety.com

Edmonton, AB T6B 1E6

Click here for a bursary application in microsoft format

Click here for a bursary application in pdf format

Developed by the Pet Therapy visiting teams at the Glenrose Hospital

Calendars are available at the Pet Therapy Centre,
or please call Fiona Beland at 417-9363 if you would like to purchase or help sell these calendars.

Price: $10.00 + postage

All profits will support the operation of the Pet Therapy Society of Northern Alberta

Thanks to Cindy Gannon of Metro Photo for donating all photography and Fiona Beland for heading up this project!