Scholarships

CPHR Alberta is proud to invest in the next generation of human resources professionals through two meaningful scholarships. Both the Eldon Emerson Scholarship and the Diploma Scholarship support emerging talent enrolled in HR-focused programs who demonstrate academic excellence, community involvement, and a commitment to the CPHR designation. Together, these scholarships reflect our ongoing commitment to fostering growth, recognition, and excellence in the HR profession.
CPHR Alberta's Eldon Emerson Scholarship: Undergraduate Award
Description

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 in pursuing the CPHR designation.

Scholarship Information:

  1. Scholarship Value (CAD): $2,500
  2. Award Funding: Annual
  3. Number of Annual Awards: One
  4. Applications Open: September 8, 2025
  5. Applications Close: December 1, 2025
  6. Disbursement of Award: January 2026

An annual $2,500 scholarship is awarded to an international or domestic student enrolled at any Alberta post-secondary institution in at least the second year of their 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 year 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.

Requirements

*If not all documents are submitted, the application is incomplete and will not be considered.

  1. Applicants must be in at least the second year of their degree program.
  2. Applicants must be a CPHR Alberta Student Member.
  3. Official statement of marks showing academic standing of 3.6 GPA or higher based on the last two years of cumulative studies.
    1. Please upload a working transcript, unofficial transcript, etc.
  4. A personal statement letter and must include:
    1. Educational journey and goals.
    2. Career goals and how the applicant's education will assist them in achieving their goals.
    3. Demonstrate passion and commitment to the Human Resources profession and to the program of study.
    4. Community involvement and extra-curricular activities.
    5. The letter should highlight the applicant's strengths that make them the ideal candidate for the award.
  5. Proof of full-time status
    1. Please upload a timetable showing your full name and post-secondary institution.
  6. A current resume that highlights:
    1. Academic,
    2. Career,
    3. Community involvement and extra-curricular activities, and/or
    4. Personal achievements
  7. A nomination letter to support the applicant who has demonstrated involvement in volunteer activities
    1. The supporting letter confirms community and/or association involvement and may include duties and responsibilities of the volunteer role.
  8. An answer to the article question (no more than 1300 words)
    1. The purpose of this is to show the applicant's creative, strategic, and critical thinking skills.
    2. The recipient of the Award 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.

Article Question: Considering the growing influence of artificial intelligence, how do you see innovation reshaping the Human Resources landscape? As an emerging HR professional, how do you envision contributing to this ongoing transformation?

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.

Application Tips

The use of AI in your Scholarship Application is prohibited. If it is suspected that you used AI to help you with your application, your submission will be considered incomplete and will not be considered by the Scholarship Selection Committee. Instead of AI to help with your application, you can use the following:

  • Have friends review your application
  • Have family review your application
  • Have faculty review your application
  • Ensure you have all necessary documents before you submit your application
  • Review the rubric and ensure your application is aligned
  • Highlight your community involvement, academic merit, passion for HR, and the CPHR designation
Criteria
Criterion Weight
Article 40.0%
Academic Merit 30.0%
Personal Statement 15.0%
Leadership & Community Involvement 15.0%
CPHR Alberta's Diploma Scholarship: Undergraduate Award
Description

CPHR Alberta launched the Diploma Scholarship in 2023 to support student members majoring (synonymous to focus, concentration, and emphasis) in an HR 2-year diploma program. 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:

  1. Scholarship Value (CAD): $1,500
  2. Award Funding: Annual
  3. Number of Annual Awards: One
  4. Applications Open: September 8, 2025
  5. Award Deadline: December 1, 2025
  6. Disbursement of Award: January 2026


An annual $1,500 scholarship is awarded to an international or domestic student enrolled at any Alberta post-secondary institution 2-year diploma 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 3.5 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.

Requirements

*If not all documents are submitted, the application is incomplete and will not be considered.

  1. Applicants must be a CPHR Alberta Student Member.
  2. Official statement of marks showing academic standing of 3.5 GPA or higher based on cumulative studies.
    1. Please upload a working transcript, unofficial transcript, etc.
  3. A personal statement letter and must include:
    1. Educational journey and goals.
    2. Career goals and how the applicant's education will assist them in achieving their goals.
    3. Demonstrate passion and commitment to the Human Resources profession and to the program of study.
    4. Community involvement and extra-curricular activities.
    5. Demonstrate the student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC)/financial need – the lower the EFC, the higher need. This is followed by an explanation of financial struggles and how the award will assist the student.
    6. The letter should highlight the applicant's strengths that make them the ideal candidate for the award.
  4. Proof of full-time status
    1. Please upload a timetable showing your full name and post-secondary institution.
  5. A current resume that highlights:
    1. Academic,
    2. Career,
    3. Community involvement and extra-curricular activities, and/or
    4. Personal achievements
  6. A nomination letter to support the applicant who has demonstrated involvement in volunteer activities
    1. The supporting letter confirms community and/or association involvement and may include duties and responsibilities of the volunteer role.
  7. An answer to the article question (no more than 1300 words)
    1. The purpose of this is to show the applicant's creative, strategic, and critical thinking skills.
    2. The recipient of the Award 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.

Article Question: Considering the growing influence of artificial intelligence, how do you see innovation reshaping the Human Resources landscape? As an emerging HR professional, how do you envision contributing to this ongoing transformation?

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.

Application Tips

The use of AI in your Scholarship Application is prohibited. If it is suspected that you used AI to help you with your application, your submission will be considered incomplete and will not be considered by the Scholarship Selection Committee. Instead of AI to help with your application, you can use the following:

  • Have friends review your application
  • Have family review your application
  • Have faculty review your application
  • Ensure you have all necessary documents before you submit your application
  • Review the rubric and ensure your application is aligned
  • Highlight your community involvement, academic merit, passion for HR, and the CPHR designation
Criteria
Criterion Weight
Academic Merit 30.0%
Personal Statement 30.0%
Article 20.0%
Leadership & Community Involvement 20.0%
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