The Richard J. Schmeelk Canada Fellowship is a post-graduate award for selected students at eligible Canadian universities.
The scholarship is awarded to Canadian citizens who wish to pursue their masters or doctoral studies in Canada's other official language.
Through working for 30 years on Wall Street at Salomon Brothers, American investment banker Richard Schmeelk developed a strong relationship with several Canadian corporate leaders and government officials.
Upon his retirement from Salomon in 1985, Schmeelk wanted to show his gratitude to Canada, and so on the urging of his Canadian colleagues, he decided to create a scholarship to encourage greater understanding and collaboration between the Anglophone and Francophone communities of Canada and to strengthen relationships between Canadian business and government.
[2] In 2005, Richard J. Schmeelk was awarded the Knight of the National Order of Quebec in recognition of his contribution to building relationships between Anglophone and Francophone communities of Canada and his philanthropy to other Canadian causes, such as the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts.