Hallman Foundation Scholars Award

What you will need

• ✓ Log in to LORIS (Laurier Online Registration and Information System) and submit the application via the Student Awards and Financial Aid tab
• ✓ A 500-word personal statement sharing why you might not see yourself attending higher education
• ✓ A completed full-time financial aid application (such as OSAP or Out-of-Province/Territorial Funding) on file as of early July 2027

About this award

You can receive $40,000 in total, with $10,000 awarded each year of a four-year degree. If you are enrolled in a five-year program, you are eligible to receive funding for all five years. As a scholarship, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you live in the Region of Waterloo and have faced financial barriers that make attending higher education feel out of reach. You must apply by May 11, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. EDT. No specific notification date is posted publicly — email chooselaurier@wlu.ca, with "Hallman Foundation Scholars Question" in the subject line, to ask when you will hear back. Selection is based on a competitive process for a select number of recipients because there is a limited amount of funding available. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Laurier's Student Awards Office how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Laurier's Student Awards Office during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. To keep this renewable award in your upper years, you must remain a full-time student, demonstrate continued financial need, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 (C-).

Who qualifies

You are eligible if you are a resident of the Region of Waterloo at the time you accept your offer of admission to Laurier. You must be an undergraduate student starting your first year of studies at Laurier in any program in fall 2027, excluding Bachelor of Education (BEd) programs. You must be registered as a full-time student, which means taking 2.0 credits per term unless you have an approved reduced course load registration through your accommodation plan with Accessible Learning (the office that supports students with disabilities). You must also demonstrate financial need through a financial aid application, such as OSAP (the Ontario Student Assistance Program — the provincial and federal government's main student loan and grant system) or Out-of-Province/Territorial Funding. Note that you must be admitted to first-year studies; if you are admitted with advanced year standing, you cannot receive this bursary.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Canadian citizen or permanent resident
• ✓ Open to undergraduate students

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• Personal StatementAvoid writing a general essay about your achievements. Instead, focus on the specific reasons why you might not see yourself attending higher education. Use your 500 words to explain the financial or personal hurdles you have faced.
• SupportAvoid submitting your financial aid application late. Instead, ensure your OSAP (Ontario Student Assistance Program) or territorial funding form is fully complete by early July. Double-check that your application status is marked as "submitted" in the portal.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the last minute to navigate the LORIS (Laurier Online Registration and Information System, the university's student portal) system. Instead, log in early to the "Student Awards and Financial Aid" tab to familiarize yourself with the interface. Submit your application well before the May 11 deadline to avoid technical glitches.
• RealismAvoid assuming you will get this award just because you meet the basic requirements. Instead, remember that this is a competitive award with limited funding for a select few. Apply for other entrance scholarships and bursaries as well, as this award can be combined with other funding.

Questions students ask

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