Now in its sixth season, the OMHA-Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary program has awarded over $100,000 worth of post-secondary bursaries to students across the province. The recipients from previous years are well into their studies, and we reached out to some to see how the bursary impacted them and how their schoolwork is going.
The 2025 OMHA Bursary Program is comprised of two awards – the Dairy Farmers of Ontario Bursary and the Wally Scott Bursary. It reflects the achievements of young hockey players who are committed to their community, athletic ability, and academic achievement. Each recipient will receive financial support toward their post-secondary education.
We chatted with:
Candidates must complete the application form below and submit it to the OMHA by 8:00 pm on February 16, 2025. Each application will be reviewed by a panel and only the winning recipients will be contacted by the OMHA. We wish the best of luck to all applicants.
Schmidt: I am currently in my first year at Lakehead University in Orillia, Ontario. I am working towards achieving my Honours Bachelor of Arts with a major in History and a Bachelor of Education in Lakehead’s Concurrent Education program.
Nichol: I am currently a second-year student at Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, pursuing a degree in Recreational Management.
Bailey: I am currently in my fourth and final year at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario. I am studying Commerce at the Smith School of Business and I also have a minor in Computer Science. I have studied hard over my four years and am honored to have been awarded the D.I. McLeod Dean's List Award each of my four years based on my academic achievements.
Schmidt: The bursary provided significant support by assisting with my first year of university tuition costs. This helped relieve much of the financial stress that comes with starting post-secondary education. This financial support allowed me to focus on settling into my first year of school and dedicating my time and energy to my academic studies.
Nichol: The bursary from the Dairy Farmers of Ontario was an incredible support that provided me with a strong foundation as I began my post-secondary journey. From covering tuition and textbooks to enabling me to participate in extracurricular activities, the financial assistance allowed me to focus more on my studies and personal growth rather than worrying about other constraints.
Bailey: The OMHA Bursary helped me get a head start on my post-secondary education because the cost of housing for students in Kingston is very expensive. In first year I lived in residence, but for the subsequent three years I lived off-campus. Therefore, the bursary reduced some of the financial stress associated with these high costs of housing. Students in university often have financial stresses and the generous bursary from the OMHA helped alleviate some of that!
Schmidt: Playing hockey has taught me many valuable lessons and skills that have helped me as a student, especially the importance of hard work and focus. In hockey, I learned that achieving success requires dedication, practice, and the ability to stay focused on an end goal, whether it’s winning a game or improving your skill set. This mindset carries over to school, where I use the same discipline to complete assignments, study for exams or tests, and stay motivated to reach my academic goals. Just like in hockey, staying focused and working hard in class helps me overcome challenges and improve every day.
Nichol: Hockey has taught me so much that it’s hard to list everything, but some of the most important traits I’ve learned are leadership, teamwork, discipline, and a sense of community. These traits and qualities I've learned from the game don’t just apply to there, they translate massively into my life situations and scenarios.
Bailey: The most important life skills I learned from hockey were teamwork and leadership. I was both Captain and Assistant Captain multiple times throughout my hockey career. Therefore I learned about being a leader, role model and creating team philosophies when on the Leadership team and about being a group member and focusing on a Leadership team's objective when not on the Leadership team. A team needs all types of players and has all types of roles that need to be filled. These key learnings from hockey have been advantageous because the Commerce program at Queen’s includes many opportunities for group-based learning and projects. Hockey taught me so much and I grew immensely. I learned about the importance of being a good leader, committing to a common goal as a group, and collaboration skills.
Schmidt: Hockey has always been one of the most important aspects of my life, and I plan on staying involved in the game for as long as I live. I am currently playing Junior C hockey in the PJHL for the Muskoka Bears out of Bracebridge and whenever time allows me to be home on weekends, I make sure to stop by my local rink and help out with Arthur Minor Hockey, whether that be coaching or volunteering. Hockey is something that I have been passionate about for as long as I can remember, and I know that it will always be a huge part of my life, whether I’m playing, coaching, or volunteering.
Nichol: Of course I'm still involved in hockey! I play weekly intramurals through the lug league every Sunday at the local Scotiabank Centre. I find it a great way to stay active, bond with new teammates, and continue playing the game I love.
Bailey: I played intramural hockey last year, I have been playing shinny at local outdoor rinks with my friends, and in summer leagues throughout university. Although hockey is not my main focus at Queen's because of my heavy course load, I have continued my involvement in sports and physical activities. Some of the intramurals I have tried at Queen’s include flag football, volleyball, dodgeball, soccer, even inner-tube water polo. I will always be involved in hockey to some extent and I will always be involved with community volunteering. I have not had the opportunity to volunteer in the hockey world yet but I have continued volunteering in other roles such as Toys for Tots, Project Hope, and math tutoring. Eventually I would love to coach kids in the game I love!
Schmidt: One of the biggest surprises for me in university was the fact that there is less in-class time compared to high school, but the workload is much heavier. At first, I thought having fewer hours in class would make things easier, but I quickly realized that a lot of the learning happens outside of lectures. Managing the workload is definitely possible, but it requires a lot of commitment. It’s essential to manage your time wisely so you are able to stay on top of assignments, readings, and projects. It was an adjustment, but it has taught me how to be more independent and responsible for my learning.
Nichol: What surprised me the most about post-secondary school is the level of independence and responsibility required to succeed. Unlike high school, where there is more guidance and structure, university demands a great deal of self-discipline to manage time effectively, stay organized, and meet deadlines.
Bailey: The biggest surprise for me in university was how fast the semesters go by. It feels like I just arrived as a brand new, lost and confused frosh a couple months ago and I am already graduating in a few short months. My advice for students entering university would be to get involved, try new things, and enjoy it as much as possible. I volunteered as a Peer Mentor for incoming first year students and I always shared that advice. One way in which I applied my own advice was when I chose to do a semester abroad at the University of Queensland in Australia. I made so many new friends from around the world and I tried new sports like surfing and cricket. I travelled by train, bus, taxi, camper van and plane around Australia and made so many amazing memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Schmidt: My next few years will mainly be all education focused as I work through a six-year program to become a teacher. As I mentioned before, I am currently in my first year of university and won’t complete my Bachelor of Education until 2030. By then, I will be certified through the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) and eligible to pursue a career in teaching. I look forward to my final few years of university when I will participate in a teaching practicum and put the theories that I learned during lectures into practice alongside experienced teachers in the classroom.
Nichol: Within the next couple of years, I am required to complete an internship as part of my degree. I look forward to this opportunity as a chance to gain valuable hands-on experience and effectively apply the skills I develop in my studies to the real-world workplace.
My long-term career goal has always been to become a professional coach, combining my passion for hockey with my desire to inspire and develop others. Beyond just playing the game, I plan to always stay connected to hockey throughout my life. Whether it’s through coaching at a competitive level, or mentoring young players to help them grow both on and off the ice, I want to be a part of shaping the future. Hockey has given me so much, and I aspire to give back by fostering teamwork, discipline, and a love for the game in the next generation. Hopefully.
Bailey: I am not entirely sure what my future holds and I have no solid plans as of yet. I am keeping my options open for either advanced schooling such as a Masters program in Finance or a job in Finance. Both of these options would satisfy my interests in finance, math, and computer science and I am hoping to pursue a career that combines those fields.