BLADES FOR GRADES SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM  - Scholarship Application


The idea of providing an education scholarship program for the players of the Chatham Junior Maroons was first put forward by Larry Keenan and Mark Tuck in 2000. A committee made up of Maroon executive Mark Tuck, Chatham-Kent Secondary School principal Bill Robinson and Ridgetown District High School principal Doug Johnston created the guide lines for the program.

   In keeping with the Maroon vision of "PRESERVING THE PAST AND PROMOTING THE FUTURE" it was the goal of the committee to recognize Junior Maroon players who were continuing towards their post secondary educational goals. Since many of the Maroons had the opportunity to receive scholarships through the u.s. College programs or the Ontario Hockey League education packages supplied by their respective teams it was decided to award a $500 post secondary scholarship for each year that a player competed for the Maroons and who wanted to continue with his education but was not part of the above two programs. After completing an application and forwarding it to the committee the player/student could then apply the monies to any college, university or training program that he is attending. Passing grades are required of course to complete the agreement. The Blades for Grades program was an immediate success both from a player's, as well as a parent's, point of view.

The source of funds to support this program is generated by our yearly Maroon Golf Tournament and Steak Nights. After the first three years, the committee was aware that post secondary costs were escalating and to try and help students keep pace with these demands the committee raised the monetary awards from $500 to $750 for each year a player played for the Maroons. To this date the committee has recognized ---­players with a total amount of $21,250 scholarship dollars. As an example, a current Maroon player who has played three years for the Maroons and attends a Canadian college or university is eligible for three payments of$750.

The Chatham Maroon Alumni Association would like to see every Maroon player continue his education in a post secondary school program after graduating from high school so he can continue to be successful in all aspects of his life. 

  Applications forms for the Blades for Grades Program are available from the Chatham

- Mark Tuck, Bill Robinson, and Doug Johnston
  Blades for Grades Committee