Fraser Valley Ringette Association
~Michelle Vandale Spirit of Winter Ringette Tournament ~
SCHOLARSHIPS
Fraser Valley Ringette Association is pleased to offer our members and participants of our tournament scholarships.
Three annual scholarships towards post-secondary education will be awarded each tournament. Please see below for the requirements needed for each scholarship. Applicants may apply to all three, but must provide a separate complete application including separate reference letters and 'essay' for each scholarship application.
Applications can either be emailed, Doc Hub or directly mailed to us. Deadline is Nov. 22nd 2023.
Applications go to a selection committee and receivers of the scholarships will be notified during the tournament.
Michelle Vandale Memorial Scholarship
Provided by the Bettles Family
PURPOSE OF THE MICHELLE VANDALE MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP
To provide annually a scholarship of $1000 towards post-secondary education for a participant (volunteer, coach, athlete, and/or official) of the Michelle Vandale Memorial Spirit of Winter Ringette Tournament who emulates good sportsmanship and a strong commitment to the sport of ringette like Michelle Vandale did. In addition to the financial award, recipients will receive a scholarship award certificate and have their name on a perpetual plaque displayed in one of Langley's arenas.
A Member of the Fraser Valley Ringette Association, Michelle began her ringette career as a player at the age of 8 and continued to play throughout her teens and young adulthood. She later took a break from ringette to get married and start a family, after which, Michelle was reunited with the sport she loved when she resumed playing. It wasn’t long after her daughter began playing (also at the age of 8) that Michelle discovered a love of coaching.
Over the years, Michelle proved herself to be truly dedicated, not only to the sport but more importantly to the players that she coached and mentored. She faithfully devoted her time to preparing practice plans, attending games, practices, and tournaments and serving on the local executive. Both as a coach and as a player, she always provided enthusiasm and encouragement to each and every person on her team. Michelle led by example, striving to be the best that she could be, to work together as a team, and to display good sportsmanship during any situation.
Sadly, the ringette community lost a great role model on November 11th, 2009, when Michelle passed away. It is local, grass-roots volunteers such as Michelle and her family who have made ringette successful in the Fraser Valley and in British Columbia. Such volunteers often go unrecognized, involving themselves for their passion, rather than for personal gain. It is in memory of Michelle and in honour of her and her family, who have contributed so much to our sport that the Bettles family would like to offer an annual scholarship opportunity in hopes that it will continue to pay tribute to her memory and help to inspire others in the ringette community to continue giving to the sport of ringette and thus, furthering the cause to which Michelle and her family have been dedicated for so many years.
Bill Bettles Volunteerism Scholarship
PURPOSE OF THE BILL BETTLES VOLUNTEERISM SCHOLARSHIP
To provide annually a scholarship of $500 towards post-secondary education for ringette players, coaches, executive members, volunteers, and/or officials who demonstrate strong academic performance, a sustained strong commitment to the sport of ringette, and who emulate the passion and dedication that Bill Bettles had for his community by actively volunteering in sport or community.
In addition to the financial award, recipients will receive a scholarship award certificate and have their name on a perceptual plaque displayed in one of the Langley area ice arenas.
Bill Bettles was a builder of community sports who had a special passion for helping female athletes realize their dreams. Mr. Bettles, a father of three girls, was involved in ringette, girls ice hockey, and softball in Langley, Aldergrove, and the Fraser Valley for three decades.
During his three years as the Township of Langley’s Parks and Recreation Commissioner, Mr. Bettles was instrumental in helping raise funds to develop a lighted park for the Aldergrove Men’s Fast Pitch League. Shortly afterwards, Mr. Bettles became the President of the Aldergrove Ringette Association, where he served for five years, overseeing Aldergrove Ringette’s amalgamation with the Langley Ringette Association to become the Fraser Valley Ringette Association. In 1988, he helped start the Lower Mainland Ringette League where he worked closely with the AA ringette program and acted as team manager for many years. Mr. Bettles was also a coach and administrator with the Langley Girls’ Fast Pitch Association and founder of the first ice hockey association for female athletes in Langley in 1995, the Langley Girls’ Ice Hockey Association, and he served as its first President.
In 2009, believing that women athletes should not have to pay thousands to play a competitive sport, Mr. Bettles started and served as General Manager of the National Ringette League’s British Columbia entry — the Fraser Valley Avalanche. This initiative became Canada’s first fully-funded ringette program, with athletes’ travel and team fees fully covered.
Mr. Bettles was inspired to endow the Fraser Valley Ringette Association’s Michelle Vandale Memorial annual scholarship award in memory of Michelle Vandale who was a tireless volunteer, athlete, coach and ringette enthusiast of the Fraser Valley Ringette Association. The Bettles family continues to support the fund and participates in scholarship committee selections annually.
In 2011, Bill Bettles was the recipient of a Community Sport Builder Award from Pacific Sport Fraser Valley for his many accomplishments and contributions to amateur sports.
Fraser Valley Ringette Association Member Scholarship
PURPOSE OF THE FVRA MEMBER SCHOLARSHIP
To provide annually a scholarship of $500 towards post-secondary education for FVRA players, coaches, executive members, volunteers, and/or officials who demonstrate strong academic performance, a sustained strong commitment to the sport of ringette, and who emulate the passion and dedication that is demonstrated by members (current and past) of the Fraser Valley Ringette Association.
In addition to the financial award, recipients will receive a scholarship award certificate and have their name on a perpetual plaque displayed in one of the Langley arenas.
