B.E.S.T. Projects Fund

B.E.S.T. Projects Fund

In 2010 a Bishop’s graduate, (who wishes to remain anonymous) with a strong belief in our University and a desire to help our most promising students achieve their full potential, made an annual gift of $50,000 for three years to establish the B.E.S.T. (Bishop’s Experiential or Service Term) Projects Fund.

B.E.S.T. Projects Fund
This Fund provides valuable assistance to students, while also providing important support to University-wide objectives. The B.E.S.T. Projects Fund is the premiere experiential learning support at Bishop’s. The funds are awarded to students whom the selection committee believes have the potential for significant achievement and impact once they graduate from Bishop’s.

Focus
In keeping with Bishop’s liberal arts tradition, and to encourage creative and entrepreneurial thinking, the scope of projects eligible for consideration is wide.  All project proposals should:

  • Articulate how the project relates to the student’s area of academic interest or links to future studies or career directions.
  • Demonstrate how the project will address one or more of the following outcomes:
    • Allows the student to develop leadership skills and better prepares the student to achieve his/her objectives after Bishop’s;
    • Provides for a significant interaction with a mentor;
    • Supports the values of social responsibility and contribution to community;
    • Encourages international experience or intercultural awareness.
  • Examples of projects funded in the first two years are:
    • An Education student who volunteered as an ESL teacher at Hope Secondary School in Tanzania for six weeks and worked with other teachers to develop second-language teaching strategies;
    • A Pre-medicine student who traveled to Brazil, Hong Kong and United States to conduct a research project on a nail pathology known as onychomycosis;
    • A Science student who investigated the effects of everyday stress on osteoporosis in women and presented the findings at an International Conference;
    • A Drama/Fine Arts student who undertook an internship as a Stage Manager at the Michael Chekhov Theatre Company in New York City;
    • A Business student who developed a social media website to link students and alumni for networking and mentoring;
    • An Environmental Studies and Geography student who did a month-long internship in a Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in Spain;
    • A Political Studies student who participated in a three-week study tour of the European Union;
    • An Education student who traveled to Swedish educational institutions to explore teaching methods and practices in the area of education for sustainable development;
    • A Music student who attended conducting lessons in Montréal and Halifax and the Sarteano Choral Conducting Workshop in Italy.

Range of Funding
Applicants may request a minimum of $2,000 up to a maximum of $7,000 in support. These funds may be used to fund:

  • Travel or accommodations if the project takes place outside of Lennoxville/Sherbrooke (this might also include funds to support expenses such as travel by the faculty member/mentor);
  • Purchase of necessary equipment (which would remain property of Bishop’s upon completion of the project), supplies or related fees (i.e. insurance);
  • Conference or workshop fees that are an important component of the project;
  • Remuneration for the student, in place of lost earnings; the student may not receive academic credit for the project.

Eligibility
Applicants for B.E.S.T. Projects funding must be full-time students at Bishop’s and be endorsed by a Bishop’s faculty member or senior administrator as a sponsor of the project.

Students must have completed at least one year of full-time studies at Bishop’s prior to starting the project.

The project may take place during the academic year, the spring or the summer, and must be completed while the student is a full-time student at Bishop’s.

A student may not receive funding for more than one project.

The student must have a minimum 70% cumulative average in courses taken at Bishop’s.

Application Process
Students and faculty members will be advised of the B.E.S.T. Projects Fund through the Bishop’s website, and the Academic Calendar. The Deans will encourage faculty members to identify potential students or projects for consideration.

Completed applications must be received by February 1 each year. Applications must be submitted electronically to the Principal’s Office at the following address: principal@ubishops.ca. The B.E.S.T. Projects Selection Committee will review applications with a goal of advising students and their sponsors of the Committee’s decisions before the end of February.

The Committee may wish to interview students prior to making a final decision.

Each application must include:

  • Explanation of the project and how it fulfills the objectives of the Fund.
  • Intended outcome or goal of the project.
  • Timeline for the project.
  • Detailed budget and specific request for financial support from the Fund.
  • Reference letter which articulates why the candidate is considered to be a high potential person and why the project will help the student achieve his/her goals.
  • Biography of the student.