ED BITZ SCHOLARSHIP 

AMOUNT OF THE SCHOLARSHIP

One $1,000.00 scholarship will be awarded.

WHO CAN APPLY?

Any umpire member of a Provincial/Territorial (P/T) Association who is registered with Softball Canada and who is entering the first, second year or subsequent year of a post-secondary educational institution is eligible for this scholarship. The applicant must be a Canadian Citizen or a Permanent Resident.

TIME OF APPLICATION

A call for nominations will be sent out by Softball Canada in the January to mid-February time period. All nominations must be received by Softball Canada (Softball Canada Manager of Officiating) no later than April 30. Only applications on the Ed Bitz Scholarship application form accompanied by the required letters of support and received by the deadline will be considered.

SELECTION CRITERIA

• The applicant must be a member in good standing with their Provincial/Territorial (P/T) Association.
• Applicants must be entering the first, second or subsequent year of an undergraduate program in a Canadian or international post-secondary educational institution. 

SELECTION COMMITTEE

The Officiating Development Committee will select the Ed Bitz Scholarship recipient(s).

Upon selection, and prior to final approval by the Board, the recipient’s provincial or territorial association (President, Executive Director or other designated senior staff member) shall be consulted to confirm the selected recipient is a member in good standing and confirm P/T support for the selection.

The name(s) selected for the Ed Bitz Scholarship(s) is then submitted to the Softball Canada Board for final approval.

TIMING OF ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE AWARD

The award recipient will be notified in July. In Blue Convention years, the announcement will take place at the Blue Convention Awards Dinner. In the years when the Blue Convention does not take place, the recipient will be announced at the Softball Canada Congress.

PAYMENT OF SCHOLARSHIP

The scholarship will be paid in September upon presentation of proof of registration for the first, second or subsequent year at the post-secondary institution named in recipient's application. The applicant/recipient may change institutions from the one named in their application at any time before or after the awarding of the scholarship, providing notification of the ODC. 

PROMOTION

Applications are to be distributed through P/T Associations and Softball Canada and will be promoted in Between the Lines and on the Softball Canada website.

FUNDING

Voluntary donations from Blue Convention instructors (Convention Registration Fee), fundraising at the Blue Convention and other donations.

DEFINITION OF POST-SECONDARY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION

Certified Educational School - Course must be a minimum of one (1) year duration leading to a degree or diploma.

Click here to download the application form for the Ed Bitz Scholarship

2023 Ed Bitz Scholarship Recipients

Awarded to: Zoe Prizzon (ON) and Kelsey Nadasdi (ON)

Previous Ed Bitz Scholarship Recipients

2022 - Kelsey Forrest (MB) and Jordan Rock (SK)
2021 - Isabella Yeo (BC)
2020 - Jenna Goeres (BC) and Adrian Wattamaniuk (AB)
2019 - Curtis Holt-Robinson, (BC) and Brody Walsh (NB)
2018 - Melody Salehzadeh (BC) and Meredith Harrison (NS)
2017 - Abigail Lachappelle, ON and Megan Dierks, ON
2016 - Jayme Menard (MB) and Francais Olexa (ON)
2015 - Amanda Dunnigan (AB) and Matthew Mills (ON)
2014 - Emma Rose Jerome Smith (AB) and Wendi Winter (ON)
2013 - Benjamin Rudson (BC) and Johann Edward Cherry (BC)
2012 - Kelly Siobhan Rauhut (ON)
2011 - Justin Greatrix (ON)
2010 - Stephen Sciuto (ON) 
2008 - Matt Allen (ON)
2007 - Sébastien Giguère (QC) and Andrea Perez-Leon (BC)
2006 - Josh Hamilton (ON)
2005 - Andrew Thompson (ON)
2004 - Alyson Kenny (ON) and Sarah Smiley (AB)
2003 - Annie Michaud (QC) and Matthew Bokor (ON)