Reasons you should apply for a SAMRU Award

Ah, the chilly weather of February has set in and the back-to-school stress has somewhat alleviated as students finally get into the routine of Winter Semester classes. As the winter reading break approaches so does the sound of… monetary grants for exceptional community members! We’re not sure how you were able to discern that, but you’re correct! It’s almost time for the annual SAMRU Awards!! 

For over 60 years, the Students’ Association of Mount Royal University (SAMRU) has believed the ultimate goal of all Mount Royal University students is academic success and personal achievement. SAMRU understands the importance of recognizing and honouring the non-academic and extra-curricular contributions of MRU students. So we’ve dedicated a day to give back to the exceptional individuals who are a part of the campus community – to the tune of $40,000 in scholarships, as a matter of fact.

Now that sure sounds better than the weather forecast for the next couple of weeks (😭)! Awards are open for all credit students to apply for, and applications are open right now! 

However, the deadline is swiftly approaching. February 28, 2025, is the last day to apply so don’t miss out on your opportunity to secure a spectacular scholarship! Whether it’s your first rodeo at MRU or you’re a seasoned student, here are a few reasons you should apply or submit a nomination for a SAMRU award.

Get rewarded for giving back to your community

Do you give it your all on campus, volunteering around to help enrich student centres, helping your fellow students during the Tax Clinic, or helping the REC team with their advocacy work? You deserve to be rewarded for all your hard work and dedication! That’s why SAMRU provides 10 separate scholarships over three different academic and community categories. 

Enrichment Awards include:

  • Deanna Cardinal Memorial Award
  • Gender & Sexuality Diversity Award
  • Inspiring Culture Award
  • Beyond Disabilities Award

Endeavour Awards include:

  • Citizen Award
  • Committed Learner

The final category of are the Excellence Awards. They include:

  • Bronze (x3)
  • Silver (x2)
  • Gold (x1)
  • Outstanding Student of the Year (x1)
Okay, but how do I nominate myself?

To help you get your recognition with as few obstacles as possible, we’ve streamlined the nomination process to make it as simple as can be. All nominations require: 

  • Your personal information to verify you are a credit student 
  • A letter of reference
  • An updated volunteer summary sheet to highlight your greatness
  • An unofficial transcript (you can easily snag these for free by logging in to your MyMRU account)
  • Additionally, all nomination types will require an essay thoroughly reviewing why you or your nominee are truly the best at what they do on campus. While the prospect of writing an essay may seem scarier than finals season, the payoff is very much worth it.

If applying to multiple awards, submitting one transcript, volunteer summary sheet or letter of reference is acceptable. However, separate essays are required.

Remember that you include ALL necessary information in your nomination, ensuring it’s all there, black and white, clear as crystal. If you fail to add a necessary bit of information, you get nothing, and your nomination will be voided.

To learn more about the intricacies and requirements of each catagory, you can check out our latest Awards Pamphlet.

Nominate your friends and mentors!

But who says you’re the only one who needs to get rewarded? Do you know someone constantly striving to make MRU the best university it can be, advocating and improving everything to do with student life? Conveniently, you can nominate your fellow student body as well.

So if your friend is stubbornly humble, be sure to toss a nomination their way and help highlight those who encapsulate this university. The nomination process is identical to that of entering yourself!

But it’s not just students getting rewarded…

You read that right! The SAMRU awards are for exceptional individuals on campus – and that includes those instructors who just make your 8:30 am – 10:50 am class every Monday and Wednesday bearable.

While these are non-monetary, they are still a fantastic way to celebrate and exemplify the instructors around campus who go above and beyond.

They include: 

  • Teaching Excellence
  • Champion Award
  • Open Education Champion

Faculty and Staff nominations require an essay and an approved list of supporting names. This list requires 20 current credit students to vouch for this nomination.

Highlight the exceptional clubs on campus

But the love doesn’t stop at just individual winners! Clubs can also be nominated for SAMRU Awards for their internal and external contributions to student life!

So whether there it’s a club you’re a part of that truly makes your university experience memorable or there’s a group you’ve seen advocating to improve the extra-curricular experience – now’s the time to show their exceptional work to your fellow SAMRU members. 

Clubs awards include:

  • Excellence in Community Service
  • Excellence in Membership Service

Club nominations will only require an essay along with the specification of which award they’ve been nominated for. Easy peasy!

A night to remember

After applications close, our independently hired committee will consider the nominees and the results will be announced at the 2025 SAMRU Awards Ceremony on April 5, 2025. The event will be held in Wyckham House, as the lower bowl hosts the final big show of awards season!

For more information about the SAMRU awards, critical dates, and where to apply, visit our awards page. For general inquiries, email us at info@samru.ca.