Al Hamilton, the first captain in Oilers history, wore the 'C' for four seasons in the World Hockey Association (WHA) and excelled as a defenceman and leader. When Hamilton's #3 Oilers jersey was retired, the scholarship was created in his name and it has since helped many deserving students further their education. When selecting the two successful candidates, the students' scholastic effort is important to Hamilton, but so is their overall character, their involvement in sports or other extracurricular activities and their commitment to bettering their community.
The Oilers Alumni are dedicated to community building in the Edmonton area, acting as advocates for numerous local charitable causes and participating in a broad spectrum of community events. The Al Hamilton Scholarship provides a unique opportunity to foster the pursuit of excellence in youth in our community by allowing them to pursue higher education opportunities.
"It has continued to be very important to myself and my fellow Oilers Alumni to foster leadership in our Scholarship recipients," said Hamilton. "Each year, the applicants impress me with the amount of work they do in the community, in addition to their scholarly and athletic commitments. The youth in Oil Country continue to show us how one person can have a big impact and enrich the community around them."
This past year, the Al Hamilton Scholarship was awarded to two incredibly bright students, Irina Ilic and Andrew Li, both of Edmonton, AB. Both students have been very active in their communities, in addition to their academic pursuits. Irina is attending the University of Alberta in pursuit of a Bachelor of Science in Engineering, with the hopes of achieving a degree in Biomedical Engineering. Outside of her studies, she continually gives back as a dance teacher, emphasizing hard work and perseverance, lessons she learned from her parents who immigrated to Canada with her as a young child.
Andrew Li has been an active member of his school community, building up the student programs and initiatives he has been a part of, including Student Mental Health. When he was prevented from continuing his participation in hockey due to an injury, he quickly found a new sport in which to establish himself and became a leader on his swim team. Andrew is currently pursuing his Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences at the University of Alberta.
"To continue Mr. Hamilton's legacy of community service is an honour and one I am committed to continuing for many years to come," said Li.
To apply, candidates must complete the online application form and include their most recent high school transcript, a 500-word essay on why the candidate believes they deserve the scholarship and two letters of recommendation. Complete details for the Al Hamilton Scholarship can be found at the following links:
For more information, please visit
EdmontonOilers.com/Alumni
.
