March 13, 2023

With the opening of scholarship and bursary applications and tax season approaching, Medicine Hat College (MHC) is creating new ways to support students this March.

Beginning with scholarships and bursaries, MHC hosted its first award application workshop on March 8, 2023, to make awards accessible to all MHC students. Michael Doughty, coordinator of financial aid and awards says workshop attendees can expect to explore various scholarship opportunities and learn helpful tips on applying for awards in general.

“Students who receive scholarships generally take on less student debt, experience reduced financial stress, and set themselves up for success after graduation,” says Doughty. “Offering award application workshops is one way we can reduce barriers for students trying to access the funding they need to achieve their academic goals.”

The next award application workshops will be held on Mar. 23 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Apr. 5 from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the courtyard room at Medicine Hat campus.

Another new support, implemented by MHC’s business administration program, are student tax preparation clinics, in which accounting students are assisting students with preparing and filing basic tax returns. Through Canada Revenue Agency’s Community Volunteer Income Tax Program, MHC students can file their returns at no cost, and student volunteers will gain valuable work experience.

Second-year accounting student, Tara Bourassa, says helping other students do their taxes is an asset as she prepares to begin her career.

“This is an awesome experience and opportunity for us as students,” says Bourassa, who hopes to gain experience with tax software and build the skills to help others understand the process.

The student tax preparation clinics are being offered weekly until Apr. 20. For a complete list of dates and times, please visit: www.mhc.ab.ca/financialaid.

Students unable to attend a workshop, or have questions regarding student loans, tax preparation or financial wellness, can schedule an appointment with MHC’s financial aid and awards team at www.mhc.ab.ca.