HOW TO APPLY FOR THE DISTRICT AUTHORITY SCHOLARSHIP IN CANADA

The District Authority Scholarship in Canada is a Government Scholarship opportunity, that recognizes graduating BC students for excellence in their chosen areas of interests in education. These scholarships are given by the government to help brilliant but needy students pursue post-secondary education.

The Canadian Ministry of Education then will allocate a whooping number of 5,500 awards pro-rated to Canadian school districts and independent school authorities based on their September 30th Grade 12 enrolments. The award is a $1,250.00 voucher that can be used toward post-secondary education tuition in any Canadian post-secondary school of choice.

BELOW ARE THE STEPS TO APPLY FOR THE CANADIAN DISTRICT AUTHORITY SCHOLARSHIP

For a student to be eligible to apply or win the Diatrict Authority scholarship, the applicant must apply to the local scholarship committee and also meet the basic eligibility requirements:

1. Must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident (landed immigrant) at the time of
2. registration in the school year for which the scholarship is awarded;
3. Must be a BC resident;
4. Note: Citizenship information is taken from the ministry’s TRAX record system.
5. Incomplete or incorrect data in the citizenship field could affect a student’s eligibility for a scholarship.
6. Must be (or have been at the time of receipt) enrolled in, or registered as a home schooler

with:

 A Canadian public school (including Distance Learning schools); or

 A Group 1, 2, or 4 Canadian independent school; or A Continuing Education Centre

 Meet criteria determined by the local scholarship committee, which requires a student to

demonstrate outstanding achievement in any of the following areas:

1. NEW: Indigenous Languages and Culture, demonstrated at school or in the community
2. Fine Arts (e.g., Visual Arts, Dance, Drama, Music)
3. Applied Skills (e.g., Business Education, Technology Education, Home Economics)
4. Physical Activity (e.g., Athletics, Dance, Gymnastics, not limited to Physical Education)
5. International Languages with Integrated Resource Packages (IRPs) or External

Assessments, including AP and IB courses

o Community Service (Volunteer Activity), which includes demonstration of local and

global issues and cultural awareness.

o Technical and Trades Training (e.g., Carpentry, Automotive, Mechanics, Cook Training)

 Fulfill the BC graduation requirements of either the 2004 Graduation Program or the Adult

Graduation Program by August 31st of the student’s graduating year

 Have not previously received a District/Authority Award or a District/Authority Scholarship

Guidelines

1) Criteria, application forms, and selection processes should be consistent among schools within a

school district/independent school authority.

2) Information about selection criteria and process should be posted on the district/authority web

site.

3) Applications must include evidence of student learning or achievement in the chosen area of

interest and may include but are not limited to:

a) Submission of a project/portfolio (electronic or hardcopy), display or video

b) Participation in an interview, performance or demonstration

In addition to an application form, applications may include a selection of the following

components:

a) Reference letters or recommendation forms from teachers or community sponsors;

b) Resume;

c) Unofficial transcript;

d) Written statement of application or essay, outlining motivation for pursuing area of

interest, impact of this involvement, highlights of achievement, personal/educational

goals in this area and plan for attaining these goals; and

e) Evidence of other attributes such as, creativity, innovation, initiative, motivation,

leadership, cooperation, good citizenship in school/community, attendance, punctuality,

work habits.

Applications should be adjudicated by a committee, either at the district/authority or school level, as appropriate. Committee members may include but are not limited to:

a) Teachers

b) School administrators

c) Superintendent of Schools or designate

d) School Trustees

e) Parent Advisory Council representatives

f) Municipal Council representatives

g) Local business representatives

h) Community representatives

Areas of interest for each scholarship recipient must be recorded and reported back to the

Ministry using the spreadsheet template provided each spring. Where possible, school

districts/independent school authorities should strive for equitable distribution of scholarships

across the areas of interest.