Student recipients demonstrated excellence within one of four award categories: natural sciences, including mathematics and technology; social sciences; humanities; and community engagement.
The Concordia University Graduation Awards recently completed its pilot run for high school students graduating in 2015. The new program offers $500 scholarships to accomplished secondary school students.
“This award program serves to recognize the academic and extracurricular achievements of graduating high school students,” says Lisa Ostiguy, Concordia’s deputy provost. “We hope to encourage these exceptional grads to pursue a university education at Concordia.”
For its inaugural run, Concordia approached 27 secondary schools in the Greater Montreal region. Participating schools selected an extraordinary student from their 2015 graduating class.
“Now that we’ve had a successful first run, we’re looking at expanding this program to become a permanent feature at Quebec high school graduation ceremonies,” says Ostiguy. “For 2016 we plan to approach 10 more schools, and eventually expand out of Montreal to include the whole province.”
Student recipients demonstrated excellence within one of four award categories: natural sciences, including mathematics and technology; social sciences; humanities; and community engagement. Some high schools do not have awards for one or more of these areas, so the Concordia University Graduation Awards can provide schools with more ways to recognize the diversity of achievement.
Concordia representatives were present at several of the high school graduation ceremonies this June to present the awards to selected students, who received a certificate and a tuition voucher for $500. The voucher can be applied when the recipient registers full-time in an undergraduate program at Concordia.
Ostiguy, who was present at the Sacred Heart School of Montreal graduation ceremony, noticed the impact of the new award right away.
“Teachers approached me to talk about their former students who went on to find success at Concordia,” she says. “By starting this program, we are able to realize the pre-existing connections between secondary schools and Concordia.”
The Concordia University Graduation Awards is a joint initiative between Concordia’s Office of the Provost and VP, Academic Affairs, Advancement and Alumni Relations, and Financial Aid and Awards Office.
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