Indigenous Achievement Award

The Indigenous Achievement Award is designed to encourage Indigenous youth to pursue post-secondary studies with the ultimate objective of obtaining a university degree, a college diploma, or a certificate from a technical institute.

The successful student will receive a certificate. The student's name will be engraved on a school-based plaque.

Eligibility

Indigenous youth that meet the following qualifications are eligible to apply:

1. Must be a graduate of Bonnyville Centralized High School, Bonnyville Outreach
   School, Cold Lake High School, Cold Lake Outreach School, Crossroads
   Outreach School, Ecole Plamondon School, Glendon School, J.A. Williams High School, Journeys Learning Academy or Lac La Biche Outreach School. Priority will be given to students who graduated in June of the current school year. Students who have graduated and been out of school for a period of one year are also eligible to apply.
2. Must provide a letter of acceptance from a post-secondary institution.
3. Must plan to be a full-time student.
4. Must be self-identified as an Indigenous Learner, as indicated on page 2 of
   Northern Lights Public Schools Student Registration Form.
5. Must agree to have their name published as the recipient and as an Indigenous role model.

Application Process

Applications should be submitted online (below) by April 30th or sent to the Northern Lights Public Schools office. The following information should be submitted with the application:

1. Transcript of marks signed by a school administrator.
2. Letter of acceptance from an accredited post-secondary institution.
3. Resume of activities from Grades 10 to 12 including:
   1. involvement in student government
   2. involvement in sports
   3. involvement in Indigenous cultural or Indigenous recreational activities (e.g.,
      Metis dancing, Pow-Wow dancing, drumming, fiddling, Native art)
   4. involvement in Indigenous community activities (e.g., Indigenous youth
      councils, volunteer at the Native Friendship Centre, commitments with
      Indigenous community organizations)
4. A one-page statement describing planned career goals.
5. One or more letter(s) of recommendation written by a teacher, principal, school
   counsellor, or a leader in your community.

Scholarship Selection Committee

The Selection Committee will consist of:

1. Minimum of two (2) Board representatives from the Truth and Reconciliation Committee
2. Associate Superintendent or Superintendent designate

Criteria for Selection of Successful Candidate

1. Academic Achievement - to a maximum of 24 points
   Applicants will be awarded points based on their overall average in:
   1. one of English 30-1 or English 30-2
   2. three other 30-level 5-credit (or equivalent) courses
   3. two 3-credit courses will be judged as equivalent to one 5-credit course
   4. Work Experience 35 and Special Projects 30 are eligible projects
      
      

      Overall Average	Points
      80-100	24
      60-79	20

2. Extra-Curricular Activities - to a maximum of 36 points
   Applicants will be awarded points based on the number of years of direct and meaningful involvement in the following extra-curricular cultural activities: 
   
   

   ACTIVITY	POINTS
   Student Government Involvement     1 year     2 years     3 years	4 8 12
   School Sports Involvement     1 year     2 years     3 years	4 8 12
   Cultural/Recreational (other than sport involvement) 1 year 2 years 3 years	4 8 12

Procedures

1. The Selection Committee will meet prior to June 30th to review the applications.
   Applicants will be notified of the status of their applications by July 15th.
   
   
2. In the event the successful applicant fails to meet or live up to the eligibility
   criteria, the next standing applicant will become eligible.
   
   
3. The application should be submitted no later than April 30th. Please complete the online form below or download a paper copy of the form and submit it by email to learning.services@nlsd.ab.ca or by mail to:

Associate Superintendent - People Services
Aboriginal Achievement Award Selection Committee
6005 - 50 Avenue
Bonnyville, AB  T9N 2L3

Questions?

Please contact:

1. Your school counsellor or principal
2. Associate Superintendent - People Services