Scholarship Value $1,250

Number of Scholarships 5500

Description

The District/Authority Scholarship awards 5,500 graduating high school students who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in a specific area. The program is provincial: the Ministry of Education and Child Care establishes core eligibility rules and general guidelines, while local scholarship committees identify and nominate conditional recipients. Confirmed recipients receive a paper scholarship voucher that can be redeemed toward post‑secondary tuition. The voucher supports further study at provincially designated post‑secondary institutions or programs approved by SkilledTradesBC.

• 5,500 scholarships awarded annually to high school graduates
• Provincial program with local nomination and provincial confirmation
• Scholarship is issued as a paper voucher redeemable for post‑secondary tuition
• Eligible for provincially designated institutions and SkilledTradesBC‑approved programs

Administration and Roles

The program separates responsibilities between the Ministry and local school/district committees. Local scholarship committees set specific awarding criteria, assess applicants, and select conditional recipients based on local priorities. The Ministry verifies that each conditional recipient meets the core eligibility requirements and then issues the scholarship voucher to confirmed recipients. The Ministry also handles voucher distribution and maintains the provincial contact point for inquiries and address updates.

• Local committees set criteria and nominate conditional recipients
• Ministry confirms eligibility and issues scholarship vouchers
• Schools report recipient mailing addresses to the Ministry for voucher distribution
• Provincial contact handles post‑graduation address changes and questions

Eligibility

Students must meet provincial core rules, complete an approved graduation credential, and satisfy any additional local requirements to be confirmed as scholarship recipients. Eligible graduation credentials include the B.C. Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) or the B.C. Adult Graduation Diploma (Adult Dogwood). Local committees evaluate demonstrated excellence in one of several achievement areas when making nominations. Conditional selection by a district/authority does not guarantee confirmation until the Ministry verifies all eligibility elements.

• Must meet Ministry core eligibility requirements
• Must fulfill Dogwood or Adult Dogwood graduation requirements
• Local committee criteria (including demonstrated achievement) also required
• Conditional selection is subject to Ministry confirmation

Areas of Achievement

Local committees may award the scholarship for excellence in a range of curriculum and activity areas that reflect school and community priorities. Common areas include Applied Design, Skills and Technologies; Community Service; Fine Arts; Languages; Physical Activity and Health; and Technical and Trades Training. Achievement may be demonstrated through school programs, community participation, or recognized external assessments (for example, AP or IB language assessment). Each district/authority determines which areas and forms of evidence it accepts.

• Typical areas: Applied Design, Community Service, Fine Arts, Languages, Physical Activity, Technical/Trades
• Achievement may be shown through school work, community involvement, or external assessments
• Each local committee defines acceptable evidence and weighting for awards
• Not all areas are weighted equally across districts/authorities

Award Value and Redemption

Confirmed recipients receive a $1,250 paper scholarship voucher from the Ministry. The voucher reimburses tuition costs and is redeemable only after the student begins study at a provincially designated post‑secondary institution (approved for Canada Student Loans) or a program provider approved by SkilledTradesBC. Each voucher includes an expiry date and must be redeemed within five years of issue; extensions are not permitted. Vouchers are mailed to the home address reported by the student’s school.

• Scholarship amount: $1,250 (voucher)
• Redeemable for tuition at provincially designated post‑secondary institutions or SkilledTradesBC‑approved programs
• Voucher expires five years after issue; no extensions allowed
• Paper vouchers are mailed to the address provided by the school

Application Process

Students do not apply directly to the Ministry for this scholarship; they participate in their school or district nomination process. Students in public schools apply through their school or district office; students in independent schools apply through the Federation of Independent School Associations (FISA) for eligible groups. Schools collect applicant information and report conditional recipients to the Ministry for verification. Students should notify their school of any address changes before graduation and contact the Provincial Scholarships Program after graduation if their address changes.

• Public school applicants use school/district nomination procedures
• Independent school applicants use FISA for Groups 1, 2, and 4 schools
• Schools submit conditional recipient information to the Ministry for confirmation
• Inform your school of address changes before graduation; email scholarships@gov.bc.ca for post‑graduation updates

Timeline and Key Dates

The program follows an annual schedule tied to the school year and the Ministry’s verification cycle. Conditional recipients are typically notified by their district/authority in the spring. In September the Ministry checks conditional recipients against eligibility requirements, and confirmed recipients are mailed paper vouchers in November. Timelines may vary slightly by district, so students should confirm specific dates with their school or district office.

• Spring: conditional recipients notified by district/authority
• September: Ministry verifies eligibility for conditional recipients
• November: paper scholarship vouchers mailed to confirmed recipients
• Check with your school/district for any locally specific schedule adjustments

Contact and Further Information

For questions about local application criteria, deadlines, or evidence requirements, contact your school or district office. Independent school students should contact their FISA representative. For provincial inquiries, voucher issues, or post‑graduation address changes, contact the Provincial Scholarships Program at scholarships@gov.bc.ca. Keep your school informed of address changes so voucher delivery is not delayed.

• Ask your school or district about local criteria and deadlines
• Independent schools: contact FISA for application facilitation
• Provincial contact: scholarships@gov.bc.ca for voucher and address issues
• Ensure your school has your current mailing address before graduation