The Canadian Islamic Congress is pioneering the country's first-ever endowment fund to support scholarships for fulltime Muslim students enrolled in Canadian post-secondary institutions, and who intend to major in journalism, social work, law, or political sciences.

The CIC hopes to raise an endowment of at least 6 million dollars (Cdn.) whereby the annual investment returns of $300,000 will be used, Inshalah, to finance 100 annual scholarship of $3,000 each. Members, chapters, and friends are encouraged to donate generously to this new endowment fund.

The CIC believes that focusing on journalism education, for example, will be an efficient long-term solution for ongoing problems of anti-Islam bias occurring across much of the Canadian media. Similarly, in the fields of law, social work and political science, there is also an urgent need for a greater proportion of Canadian Muslim expertise.

The Canadian Islamic Congress announced on June 5, 2006 that it has established a new scholarship in Peace and Conflict Studies to honour Capt. Nichola Goddard, a Canadian soldier who died in Afghanistan on May 17, 2006 and to promote the peaceful resolution of political conflicts. This scholarship is open for Muslim and None Muslim students.

This annual $3,000 scholarship is being offered to qualified Canadian students admitted to or enrolled in an eligible academic program of Peace and Conflict Studies at any Canadian university. At the committee's discretion, more than one scholarship could be offered in any given year.

The annual deadline for applications is July 1. Applications for the 2006/07 academic year are now being accepted.

The scholarship selection committee includes Nichola's father, Prof. Tim Goddard of the University of Calgary's Faculty of Education; Prof. Nathan Funk of the University of Waterloo Peace and Conflict Studies; and Prof. Mohamed Elmasry, national president of the Canadian Islamic Congress.

Capt. Nichola Goddard, 26, was the first Canadian woman soldier killed in combat since World War II.

"A scholarship in the name of Capt. Nichola Goddard in Peace and Conflict Studies will go a long way toward helping Canadians understand our traditional role of being a peace maker and a peace keeper. We hope and pray that Captain Goddard is the last Canadian to be killed in combat in Afghanistan," said CIC president Dr. Mohamed Elmasry.

"As a mother I share the pain of the Goddards," said Mrs. Wahida Valiante, CIC's national vice-president. "This new scholarship in Peace and Conflict Studies will keep alive the Canadian ideal of peaceful conflict resolution."

"Nichola believed strongly in the power of education," said Professor Goddard, "and through this scholarship we hope that Canadians will come to better understand the need for peaceful resolution of the many conflicts in our world."

"I am pleased that through this scholarship, deserving students will be able to honour the memory of Nichola's life and work," said Jason Beam, Nichola's husband.

This CIC scholarship is being offered in addition to the Nichola K.S. Goddard Memorial Scholarship Fund also created in her honour at the University of Calgary.

For more information on the U of C scholarship visit:
www.ucalgary.ca/giving

For more CIC information, please visit the following links:
www.canadianislamiccongress.com/mc/media_communique.php?id=768
www.canadianislamiccongress.com/ar/opeds.php?id=2692

Scholarship applicants must be Canadian citizens, or permanent residents, and have been admitted or are enrolled into a program in one of the above academic areas, leading to degree qualifications at a Canadian post-secondary institution. Each successful applicant must commit to volunteering 250 hours of community service at one of CIC's regional chapters across Canada, or at the CIC head office.

Prior to the annual deadline, the CIC must receive all of the following documents from each applicant. (Incomplete submissions will not be considered.)

1. A copy of his/her citizenship or permanent resident card.
2. A copy of his/her letter of admission into one of the above area of studies from a Canadian post-secondary institution.
3. Two letters of recommendation, containing the referees' contact information.
4. A resume detailing the applicant's involvement in his/her local community within the past 3-5 years.
5. A covering letter from the applicant, indicating his/her future career plans in one of the above-mentioned areas and confirming his/her willingness to donate 250 hours of volunteer work to the CIC.
6. The applicant's complete address (both current and permanent, if necessary), telephone number, fax number (if applicable), and email.

Applications must be sent to the CIC head office by registered mail and be post-marked no later than midnight of July 1 each year, in order to be considered for the following fall/winter academic term.

Successful applicants will be notified personally by telephone, postal mail, or email, prior to their names and details being published in the CIC weekly electronic magazine (E-zine) THE FRIDAY MAGAZINE. At the CIC's Ottawa Gala Dinner, held annually in October, each winner will be presented with the first $500 of his / her scholarship award. The remaining $2,500 will be given after they have completed their required 250 hours of volunteering for CIC.