Class of 1952 Mel Hawkrigg Honour Award

What you will need

• ✓ Activate your MacID and login to AwardSpring (the scholarship portal)
• ✓ Complete the common application
• ✓ Submit the Faculty of Engineering Entrance Awards application by February 19, 2027
• ✓ Provide contact information for two referees
• ✓ Ensure two reference letters are submitted by February 21, 2027
• ✓ Respond to three short-answer questions

About this award

You can receive $4,500. There is only 1 award available. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a high-achieving high school student who balances strong grades with leadership roles and community volunteering. You must submit your application by February 19, 2027, at 11.59 p.m. ET. Your reference letters must arrive by February 21, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET. Ask McMaster University – Faculty of Engineering how and when you will be notified of the results. Winners are chosen from the Faculty of Engineering entrance award application, based on an admissions average of 90% or higher, leadership, extra-curricular and/or volunteer involvement, and letters of reference. Ask McMaster University – Faculty of Engineering during your application how the money will reach you – some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed – if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with McMaster University – Faculty of Engineering whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be an applicant from high school entering one of these programs: Bachelor of Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences. You need an admissions average of 90% or higher. You must also show demonstrated leadership experience and attributes, along with involvement in extra-curricular and/or volunteer activities in your community.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

• ✓ Open to high school students
• ✓ Studying Bachelor of Technology, Computer Science, Engineering or Integrated Biomedical Engineering & Health Sciences

How to apply

1. 1

   Read the award's official page

   Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.

2. 2

   Ask for reference letters2 weeks

   Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.

3. 3

   Submit your application

   Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

• LeadershipAvoid just listing the titles of the clubs you joined. Instead, describe a specific time your leadership led to a real result for your team or community. Give a concrete example of a project you managed.
• RefereesAvoid choosing references who only know you as a student in a classroom. Instead, pick people who can speak to your character and volunteer work outside of school. Contact your referees early to ensure they meet the February 21 deadline.
• StrategyAvoid leaving the optional special circumstances section blank if you have faced genuine hardships. Instead, use that space to explain how those challenges shaped your resilience. Connect your personal growth to your future success in engineering.
• RealismAvoid assuming that a 90% average is enough to win, since only 1 is available. Instead, focus on making your extracurricular and leadership evidence as strong as possible. Treat this as a highly competitive addition to your overall financial plan.

Questions students ask

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