Because it’s 2016! Scholarships for outstanding young women!

The Cause

Expanding a Great Legacy by Including Young Women.

The Scholarship was created by former students of St. Mary’s High School to honour Father James Whelihan, an outstanding educator and civic athletics leader. By the terms of the original Trust Agreement, the awards were intended for two male students, one from each of the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic school districts. Over the years, the Committee recognized there was no equivalent award for young women in Calgary. In response to this gap, and in keeping with Fr. Whelihans philosophy of providing opportunities for all young people, the Scholarship Committee set a strategic goal to build the fund to enable the award of two scholarships to outstanding female students. Years of fund raising have got us to close to that level, and we believe a concerted effort to raise $40,000 will achieve our goal in the next 12 months. In keeping with Field Law’s commitment to education and our Calgary community, your investment in the Scholarship will recognize and support the best of young people in our community.

The Fr. Whelihan Memorial Scholarship is celebrating over 40 years of providing post secondary scholarships to deserving Calgary high school students. The Scholarship was created and named in honour of Fr. James Whelihan (1902-1986) who was a legendary educator and athletics leader who taught at St. Mary’s High School from the 1930’s to the 1970’s. Fr. Whelihan helped to create the Calgary Senior High School Athletics Association and as an educator, coach and mentor, had a profound influence on thousands of young people across the city of Calgary. At present, the awards are $2000 each, and the criteria for nomination and selection are academic and athletic achievement, leadership, good citizenship/community involvement and financial need.

Who Will it Benefit?

The FWMS Scholarship solicits nominations of outstanding women students from all high schools from each of the Calgary Board of Education and Calgary Catholic school districts.

There will be two women who receive the actual scholarship each year. Given that each applicant is actually nominated by their school to be their representative, it is considered an honour to be nominated given the criteria and reputation of the Scholarship, and Fr. Whelihan.

The Father Whelihan Scholarship, and the legacy of Fr. Whelihan is well known and well regarded throughout the high school community, and the award has inspired young people to be their best in all aspects of their lives. To continue their education and give back to the community that supported each of them thus far.