Eldon Emerson Scholarship

CPHR Alberta's Eldon Emerson Scholarship: Undergraduate Award

CPHR Alberta created the Eldon Emerson Scholarship in 2021 to recognize Eldon’s exceptional leadership in our community and continued drive to share his passion for the human resources profession. In 2013 Eldon received the Fellowship award, a prestigious honorary award that recognizes Chartered Professionals in Human Resources who have made exemplary contributions to the profession.

Eldon’s proven ability of HR leadership and community involvement are evident through his roles as the Chair of the founding Committee of the Human Resources Institute of Alberta (HRIA) (now known as CPHR Alberta) in developing the key principles, operating terms, and getting independent groups to join under the organization. Eldon was elected as the first president when HRIA came into force. Eldon has extensive HR experience in the public, private, and non-profit sectors and depicts ongoing involvement in the broader HR community.

The recipient of this scholarship shows pride in academic merit, community engagement, excellence in the Human Resources discipline and demonstrates an interest to pursue the CPHR designation.

Scholarship Information:

Value of scholarship (CAD): $2,500

Award Funding: Annual

Number of Annual Awards: One

Launch: September 9, 2024

NEW Award deadline: November 29, 2024 by 4pm 

Disbursement of award: January 2025

Apply here!

An annual $2,500 scholarship is awarded to an international or domestic student enrolled at any Alberta post-secondary institution in at least their third year of a degree program with a major* in Human Resources. The recipient must be a full time-student (two or more courses per semester) with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.6 based on the last 2 years of studies on a 4.0 scale. The individual must be a current Student Member of CPHR Alberta in good standing, demonstrate leadership and/or community involvement and show an interest in, and passion for the Human Resource profession.

*synonymous to focus, concentration, and emphasis.

Selection Process:

Method of application: Webform application, accessed through the CPHR Alberta website.

Criteria for scholarship selection:

1. Official statement of marks showing academic standing of 3.6 GPA or higher based on the last two years of cumulative studies.
2. Scholarship applicants must be in at least the second year of their degree program.
3. A personal letter from applicants (no more than 500 words) describing educational goals, career objectives, their commitment to the program of study, and their passion for the Human Resources profession. The letter should highlight the applicant's strengths that make them the ideal candidate for the scholarship.
4. Proof of full-time student status with attached timetable indicating course load. This attachment must show your full name and post-secondary institution name.  
5. A current resume that highlights academic, career and/or personal achievements. 
6. Submit one nomination letter to support the applicant has demonstrated involvement in volunteer activities. The supporting letter confirms community and/or association involvement and may include duties and responsibilities of the volunteer role.  
7. Scholarship applicants must write a brief article (no more than 2000 words) on the question below. The purpose of this is to show the applicant’s creative, strategic, and critical thinking skills. The recipient of the Scholarship will have their article published in the CPHR Alberta magazine and the runner-up receives the opportunity to have their article posted on the CPHR Alberta blog.

2024 Applicants Article Question: The most common perceived functions of Human Resources are hiring, firing and onboarding. Describe how you would increase the visibility of HR among employees, encourage positive relationships with employees, and increase awareness of the support that HR provides throughout the employee lifecycle.  

Scholarship Selection Committee:

The Scholarship Selection Committee will review applications and recommend the applicant who should be awarded the scholarship. The selected recipient will be notified by CPHR Alberta via letter.

Criteria for Scholarship Selection Committee:

Three or five CPHR Alberta members who have no direct connection to Alberta post-secondary institutions and who take pride in their CPHR designation and building our HR community. Committee members need to be anonymous and have not taken nor will take any involvement in CPHR Alberta student-related events until a recommendation on the scholarship recipient has been made and accepted by CPHR Alberta.

*The same SSC members will be utilized for the Eldon Emerson Scholarship and Diploma Scholarship.

Weighting of Scholarship Criteria:

Contact Information:

For any questions, please contact Cali Kleine at ckleine@cphrab.ca.