OKANAGAN COLLEGE ABORIGINAL STUDENT AWARDS:
1. Okanagan College - Okanagan Nation Students Bursary
Okanagan College has allocated $5,000 to provide bursaries for Okanagan Nation students pursuing post-secondary study at Okanagan College. Awards of up to $500 per academic year will be made to eligible students. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration in determining the amount of bursary funding students may be eligible for.
Applicants must be:
a) members of an Okanagan band; and
b) registered in a minimum 60% course load (40% course load for students with a permanent disability) in a university transfer, degree or diploma program, or
c) registered in a minimum 60% course load in a full-time vocational, trades or health certificate program.
Applicants must be in good standing as per the Okanagan College Student Conduct Policy, not on academic probation and not have outstanding fees. However, extenuating circumstances may warrant financial assistance in exceptional circumstances.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting your application is 30 days after the start date of your program of study. For example, if your program starts September 1, 2009, you must submit your application no later than October 1, 2009
For application information please refer to Financial Aid & Awards.
2. Okanagan College -Shuswap Nation Students Bursary
Okanagan College has allocated $3,000 to provide bursaries for Shuswap Nation students pursuing post-secondary study at Okanagan College. Awards of up to $500 per academic year will be made to eligible students. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration in determining the amount of bursary funding students may be eligible for.
Applicants must be:
a) members of an Shuswap band; and
b) registered in a minimum 60% course load (40% course load for students with a permanent disability) in a university transfer, degree or diploma program, or
c) registered in a minimum 60% course load in a full-time vocational, trades or health certificate program.
Applicants must be in good standing as per the Okanagan College Student Conduct Policy, not on academic probation and not have outstanding fees. However, extenuating circumstances may warrant financial assistance in exceptional circumstances.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting your application is 30 days after the start date of your program of study. For example, if your program starts September 1, 2009, you must submit your application no later than October 1, 2009.
For application information please refer to Financial Aid & Awards
3. Okanagan College Aboriginal Students Bursary
Okanagan College has allocated $5,000 to provide bursaries for Aboriginal students pursuing post-secondary study at Okanagan College. Awards of up to $500 per academic year will be made to eligible students. Individual circumstances will be taken into consideration in determining the amount of bursary funding students may be eligible for.
Applicants must be:
a) Status/Non-Status Indian, Metis or Inuit; and
b) registered in a minimum 60% course load (40% course load for students with a permanent disability) in a university transfer, degree or diploma program, or
c) registered in a minimum 60% course load in a full-time vocational, trades or health certificate program.
Applicants must be in good standing as per the Okanagan College Student Conduct Policy, not on academic probation and not have outstanding fees. However, extenuating circumstances may warrant financial assistance in exceptional circumstances.
Application Deadline: The deadline for submitting your application is 30 days after the start date of your program of study. For example, if your program starts September 1, 2009, you must submit your application no later than October 1, 2009.
For application information please refer to Financial Aid & Awards.
4. Interior Aboriginal Endowment Fund Award
The Interior Aboriginal Endowment Fund has been established by the Interior Aboriginal Business Services Society to provide annual awards for aboriginal students. Recipients will be permanent residents of B.C. and will be enrolled full-time in any year of a university transfer, degree, diploma or vocational certificate program at any campus of Okanagan College. Selection of the award recipient will be based on a combination of academic achievement and financial need, with emphasis on financial need.
Application Deadline: Friday August 14, 2009
For application information please refer to Financial Aid & Awards.
5. Wendy Anne Morgan Memorial Award
An endowment fund has been established in memory of Wendy Anne Morgan to provide an annual award for a student who has completed one or more years of study (in at least 60% of a full course load, or 40% of a full course load for a student with a permanent disability) in a university transfer, degree or diploma program at Okanagan College, and who is proceeding to any post-secondary institution for a subsequent year of full-time study. Preference will be given to a student pursuing a career in teaching and/or an aboriginal or first nations student. Selection of the award recipient will be based on financial need.
Application Deadline: Friday May 29, 2009
For application information please refer to Financial Aid & Awards.
6. Robert Allison Bursary
The annual income from a bequest by Mrs. R. Allison of Kelowna provides funds to enable deserving students to begin or continue attendance at Okanagan College. Preference will be given to applicants who are the descendants of Native Indians and whose circumstances make it necessary to be self-supporting. The income may be divided or awarded to a single applicant at the discretion of the selection committee.
Application Deadline: Friday August 14, 2009
For application information please refer to Financial Aid & Awards.
7. Vicki Hitchen Memorial Okanagan College Entrance Award (Special Application Required)
Ms. Vicki Hitchen was a Public Health Nurse in Salmon Arm who worked for many years in the 1970's and 1980's with people of the Okanagan, Splats'in, Neskonlith, Adams Lake and Little Shuswap First Nations. It was Ms. Hitchen's wish to assist members of those communities to further their education. Applicants must be of Aboriginal ancestry (status, non-status, Metis or Inuit). Preference will be given to members of the following five bands: Splats'in, Adams Lake, Neskonlith, Little Shuswap, Okanagan (Vernon). TReturing Okanagan College students and/or new students in Grade 12 or adult learners wishing to attend any program at Okanagan College are eligible.
Upon receiving proof of registration in any
full time program of study at any campus of Okanagan College, the Fund will pay the College the student's first semester tuition fee and supplies cost to a maximum of $1,000. Any remaining money will be given to the student as a cash award. If the award is to a student already in post-secondary education, no restrictions will apply.
Bring the completed application from and any supporting documents or letters to the Administration Office, Salmon Arm Campus, Okanagan College, or mail to: The Trustees, Salmon Arm College Scholarship Fund, c/o Okanagan College, Salmon Arm Campus, Box 189, Salmon Arm, BC, V1E 4N3.
Application Deadline: April 30, 2010
For application information please refer to
Financial Aid & Awards.
EXTERNAL ABORIGINAL SCHOLARSHIPS, BURSARIES AND AWARDS:
1. Youth Educational Assistance Fund for Former Youth in Care
The youth educational assistance fund for former youth in care provides grants to full-time students who were adopted or in foster care as children. For the 2006/07 school year, the grant is $5,500. Please refer to the Student Aid BC website for eligibility criteria and application forms.
2. National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation
The National Aboriginal Achievement Foundation (NAAF) has grown and evolved into the largest non-governmental funding body for First Nations, Inuit, and Métis post secondary students across Canada. Bursary and scholarship awards are provided to over 600 First Nations, Inuit, and Métis student annually across a diverse range of disciplines. In the 2006-2007 fiscal year $2.8 million was awarded to 716 recipients across Canada. In total, NAAF has disbursed over $24.3 million since its inception. NAAF offers financial assistance (scholarships and bursaries) through three major categories: Post-Secondary Education, Fine Arts and Cultural Projects and Health Careers. For more information on the types of awards, eligibility criteria and application forms please refer to the NAAF website.
3. Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund
Created in 2002, the Aboriginal Youth Sport Legacy Fund (AYSLF) has three grant programs to support BC Aboriginal youth who are pursuing a future in sport and recreation. For more information on the types of awards, elibibility criteria and application forms please refer to the 2010 Legacies Now website.
4. Community Development Trust - Tuition Assistance (Not Aboriginal Specific)
If you are a forestry worker experiencing a temporary lay-off of three months or more, why not use the time to upgrade your skills, knowledge or education?
The Community Development Trust Tuition Assistance program provides up to $5,000 for tuition at any designated public or private post-secondary institution in BC.
This federally funded program is part of B.C.’s commitment to build economic prosperity across the province, create opportunities, and develop new career paths for impacted forestry workers.
If you are on federal EI now and you want to apply to the Province of British Columbia's Tuition Assistance Program - here's what to do.
- 1. Contact your federal EI office first.
- Tell your federal EI representative that you intend to apply for the Tuition Assistance Program from the Community Development Trust.
- Develop your personal education plan with your federal EI representative.
- After your federal EI representative approves your education plan, you can apply to the Tuition Assistance Program and keep receiving your federal EI benefit.
The Province will continue working with EI to provide up-to-date information and maximize service delivery.
You may be eligible for tuition assistance if you are:
- An employee of a forest company, licensee or contractor; sawmill, pulp mill or value-added forestry operation;
- Experiencing a temporary lay-off of 3 months or more, and;
- Interested in upgrading your skills or education.
- See definition of a forest worker to determine eligibility.
You can download the application forms below, or visit your nearest Government of Canada Employment Insurance Centre for assistance. If you have any questions or concerns with the application process please e-mail us at cdt@gov.bc.ca.
You must complete and submit Part #1 of the application to determine your eligibility for the Tuition Assistance Program. If eligible, you will receive an approval letter and Part #2 of the application form.
Only submit Part #2 of the application form once you have received a letter indicating that you are eligible for the Tuition Assistance Program. Once approved and ready to enrol in a course(s), have the financial aid office at your school complete and submit Part #2 of the application. If you do not receive Part #2 of the application or require a new form, it is available for download below.
Important:
Accepting tuition assistance from the Community Development Trust may affect your eligibility for employment insurance and/or employment insurance training funds. Check with your Government of Canada Employment Insurance Centre before you apply. If you are unemployed or looking for general information about skills you may need in the future, visit your Government of Canada Employment Insurance Centre.
Most of the following websites have extensive listings for Aboriginal scholarships, bursaries and awards:
Aboriginal Canada Portal - Financial Assistance
Aboriginal Multi-Media Society's (AMMSA) Guide to Bursaries and ScholarshipsIndian and Northern Affairs Canada Aboriginal Bursary SystemInformation Centre on Aboriginal Health: Scholarships and BursariesAboriginal Funding ToolStudentAwards.comBC Awards Online
If there are any links that you would like to see added to this page, please contact James Coble at 250.762.5445 ext. 4322 or at jcoble@okanagan.bc.ca.
