Sara Montgomery, daughter of Don and Corinna Montgomery of Three Hills and a Grade 12 student at Three Hills School, is a finalist for the Loran Scholar program this year. She has a chance to receive an award worth up to $80,000 over four years for her undergraduate studies in Canada, including mentorship and a summer program.
Sara is one of only 73 students from an initial pool of 3,500 applicants. She is invited for two days of national interviews in Toronto on February 14 and 15, 2014. Finalists who are not selected as one of the 30 Loran Scholars receive a $3,000 finalist award.
Sara is president of the student council and a principal player of the girls' Royals basketball team.
She was instrumental in co-ordinating the Christmas Shoebox drive in the school and the Student Council sponsored involvement with the Three Hills Food Bank. When she was in grade 10 she mentored two students in the Elementary School division.
Sara has worked part-time as a waitress and in the summer as a logging labourer.
Her participation in outreach to others began early. In 2009 when she was in grade 7, she was part of a team from her church and a trip to Mexico for a house building project.
In addition to the strong influence of her parents to take on and develop leadership skills, Sara acknowledges the role of Mr. Vaughn, her Biology teacher and Student Council Co-ordinator.
Sara has been accepted by the University of Alberta to pursue studies in Biochemistry with a goal at this time to be in the medical field or scientific research.
About the Loran Scholar program
Unlike some scholarships the Loran Scholar program is about more than just academic excellence although this is obviously an area in which Sara also shines. Each year, 30 graduating high school or CEGEP students are selected as Loran Scholars on the basis of character, service, and leadership potential. The selection process is the most rigorous in the country, and involves multiple rounds of personal interviews at the regional and national level by leaders from business, education and other fields.
Loran Scholars receive Canada's largest and most unconventional undergraduate merit scholarship. Tenable at one of 25 partner universities, it comprises an $9,000 annual stipend and a matching tuition waiver (unique in Canada), a summer program with funding up to $8,500, a week-long orientation expedition in Algonquin Park in Ontario, one-on-one mentorship and participation in the community of past and present Loran Scholars, in total worth up to $80,000.
The Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation
In 2014, the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation (CMSF) marks 25 years of investing in Loran Scholars. Founded in 1988, CMSF is a national charity that works in partnership with Canadian universities, donors and volunteers throughout the country to invest in young Canadians who demonstrate character, commitment to service and leadership potential.
