Scholarship

Are you seeking to better integrate your faith into your field of study or research? Do you have an innovative idea for reaching your campus community? Let us support you, and invest in you with a $2000 scholarship.

Apply Today!

  • Refer to the application form (click below) to create your proposal.
  • Submit an up to date resume/CV. 
  • Proposals and resumes must be submitted to Chaplain Ryan Farrell at chaplain@ottawacampuschaplaincy.org by May 24, 2024.
  • You may be asked to have an interview with the evaluation team.
APPLICATION FORM

The Vandergrift Grant for Scholarship and Faith is an annual $2000 award granted by the Ottawa Campus Chaplaincy to a returning student (or team of students) of the University of Ottawa or Carleton University who desires to create an avenue of Christian reflection within the university.  The grant honours the work of Dr. Laurens (Larry) Vandergrift, a former professor at the University of Ottawa who was instrumental in the development of the Ottawa Campus Chaplaincy and served as its first board chair.

The goal of the grant is to encourage creative endeavours that foster opportunities for reflection and dialogue that will not only allow the recipient to grow in their understanding of how their faith interacts with their studies (or particular field of study) but also encourages others in the university and/or their department to join them in curious inquiry of scholarship and faith.

Applicants must submit an application and a CV or resume.  The application is meant to guide your vision and help you consider the possibilities of engagement, but proposals may go beyond the scope of outlined questions and we welcome your creativity.  The grant money is an investment in students, their efforts and ideas and not necessarily expected to fund the project itself (though an applicant may choose to do so). The Ottawa Campus Chaplaincy may provide additional funds for the proposed projects based on how the project may benefit the witness of Christ within a university setting.

To be eligible for the 2024-2025 grant, a student must have completed at least one year of studies and continue to be enrolled at the University of Ottawa or Carleton University (undergraduate or graduate studies).  The successful applicant(s) will be expected to read 1-2 books with a Campus Minister/Chaplain that will deepen their understanding of Christianity in relation to their proposal.  The successful recipient will also be expected to write a 500-1000 word reflection at the end of the year that evaluates their learning and the experience of executing a vision.

Previous Grant Winners

  • 2016 – Radamis (Rado) Zaky – Graduate Student in Feminist and Gender Studies – Rado wanted to explore the topic of feminism and Christianity.  Within his department he organized two panel presentations with guest speakers and worked with our Chaplain to have a clergy panel and campus event where topics of Christianity, gender and feminism were discussed.

  • 2017 – Angela Richmond – Art Student – Angela organized an exhibition in her department on the subject of light in darkness along with a couple of other Christian friends.  She also organized paint nights where any uOttawa student could come and artistically express themselves and consider how art informs faith.

  • 2018 – Corey Chalupka – History Student – Corey put together a plan to initiate a Campus Inklings group.  Corey has organized a weekly pub gathering where topics related to the Inklings of Oxford (JRR Tolkien, CS Lewis, Charles Williams and friends) were discussed.  He also organized movie nights related to the Inklings as opportunities for fellowship and Christian friendship.

  • 2019 – Susanna Heystek – Music Student & Seth Hogeterp – Chemistry Student – Susanna and Seth put together Music & Musings, a monthly gathering where musicians of all kinds could perform, experiment, jamb, and then discuss the ways in which God speaks through music and how can music shape us and our culture. Monthly gatherings included themes of hope, community, beauty.

  • 2023 – Adrian Colletti  – Adrian, a huge fan of anime, developed a relaxed environment for a group of other anime-loving students (and an anime rookie chaplain) to gather and watch movies or series and explore how God might be speaking to them through film. Adrian also researched and explored the broader intersection of culture and Christianity.