One monetary prize of $500 will be awarded annually in honour of Ashley Pollock, former president of the Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies (ccfms.ca). It is hoped that the award will support and encourage students who want to pursue a career in geosciences and help them recognize how groups such as those belonging to the CCFMS help educate the public and promote interest in rocks, minerals, fossils, and the lapidary arts.

To be eligible, a student must be:

1. a Canadian citizen; and
2. currently enrolled in their second year of study or higher in an undergraduate program in geosciences (e.g., Earth Sciences, Environmental Geosciences, Geology) in a recognized Canadian university.

Complete applications from eligible candidates will be judged based on:

1. their letter of support;
2. the quality of their application;
3. their program of study and career objectives;
4. their paid and volunteer work experience;
5. their participation in extracurricular activities; and
6. their ability to relate the previous 3 points to the objectives of the CCFMS

To apply, candidates must fully complete the digital application form and email it to office@mineralogicalassociation.ca along with pdf copies of:

1. a letter or document from the student’s university (e.g., copy of the student’s official current course list) confirming the program and year they are enrolled in;

2.  their personal resume indicating their educational focus and grade level, their paid work experience and responsibilities, and their extracurricular (e.g., hobbies, membership in clubs or organizations, etc.) and volunteer activities;

3. a short letter of support (maximum 250 words) from a person familiar with the applicant who is a faculty member, an executive member of a CCFMS-affiliated club, a Canadian Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo.), or an employer/supervisor; and

4. a short essay (maximum 500 words) to tell us why you deserve this award. Focus on how your career objectives, education, work experience, and extra-curricular and volunteer activities align with one or more of the following objectives of the CCFMS:

(a) To encourage co-operation and information exchange amongst clubs and other organizations interested in mineralogy, other earth sciences, and lapidary arts;

(b) To promote the study of mineralogy, other earth sciences, and lapidary arts; and

(c) To promote the conservation of, access to, and exploration of important geological and mineralogical occurrences.

Individual students may apply once each year of their undergraduate program. Preference will be given to students who did not win this award in a previous year.

December 31, 2025