The Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre 2025 Family Education Award

Friends of the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre established this award to help children/dependents of long-service employees to pursue full-time post-secondary education (60% minimum course load). The award is based on financial need, academic achievement and community involvement.

If you are interested in contributing to The Simkin Centre Education Fund at the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba go to – https://www.jewishfoundation.org/simkin-centre-family-education-fund or contact our fundraising office at 204.589.9027 for more information.

Applications for the 2025 Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre Family Education Award are now being accepted by the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba. This award is for children and dependents of long-service Simkin Centre employees to pursue post-secondary education. This year $5,000 will be awarded to one recipient.

The deadline to apply is February 28, 2025.

Eligibility

An applicant:

  • Must be a child or dependent of a “long service employee” of the Centre. A “long service employee” is considered a full or part-time employee who has 5 or more years of service as at January 1st of the year of application;
  • Must be 25 years of age or LESS (25th birthday must be subsequent to January 1st of the year of application);
  • Must be applying for, have been accepted into, or be continuing studies in a university, college or other post-graduate program with preference given to persons studying at a Manitoba educational institution;
  • Must not have previously received the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre Family Education Award UNLESS the award was not given out during the previous calendar year. **
  • Must be a resident of Manitoba

Criteria

Assuming the applicant meets the eligibility requirements set forth above, the following criteria will be used by the selection committee in recommending the award:

  • Financial need
  • Academic achievement
  • Community participation or volunteer activity

Applications

To apply for this award, information and application forms are available on-line at:

www.jewishfoundation.org/scholarshipguidelines or one can contact the Jewish Foundation of Manitoba at 204.480.7557, scholarships@jewishfoundation.org.

* The Jewish Foundation of Manitoba reserves the right not to award these bursaries on an annual basis. This is dependent upon the receipt of qualified applications as determined by the terms and conditions of the scholarship.

** If you are a previous recipient interested in applying, please contact the Foundation to determine eligibility.

2024 Award Recipient

Paolo Servando is the 2024 recipient of the Saul and Claribel Simkin Centre Family Education Award. He is the son of Liza Servando who works at the Simkin Centre as HR/Payroll/Benefits Assistant.

Paolo is currently attending Red River College under the Application Development and Delivery Program which covers software and web development, as well as database and server maintenance. After graduation, his goal is to become a Software Engineer. In his free time, Paolo enjoys art and writing

Paolo would like to express his sincere gratitude for being selected for this award.

He is inspired to strive to do his best in his academic career, in the hopes he may someday repay this kindness and generosity.

2023 Award Recipient

Congratulations to William Protasevych who is pursuing a Bachelor of Computer Science degree from the University of Manitoba. His mother,  Agata Pasternak, is an employee of the Simkin Centre.

In his own words he writes; “ I believe that I would see the greatest benefit from receiving this award. It would not only help myself, but my family and others. The extra support would alleviate some stress of figuring out where the funding for my education is coming from. As well as that, it would allow me to focus more on my studies and giving back to the community. I believe for these reasons this scholarship would not be wasted if given to me.

The award would aid my parents and I greatly. Currently my parents are housing three family members who are refugees from Ukraine. We are all working to make their experience in Canada as pleasant as we can with what we have. I do not want to have my parents worry about me while they support the rest of the family. The extra financial aid would help us all.

The funding would not only support my family and I but allow me to support others. By focusing less on working to pay for the costs of education I can put greater focus on my studies. Time I do not spend working would also give me more time to volunteer in the community. Working for the good of others is ultimately a much better use of my time than working simply to pay expenses. For this reason the award would not benefit me exclusively.

Considering this, I see myself as the primary candidate for receiving this award. It would create an easier time for my parents and I as we support our family. I would be able to have more time for involving myself in the community and for my studies. With all this in mind hopefully I have made it clear as to why I would make the best use of this award.”