Elaine (Sweet) Whitford Scholarship Fund

What you will need

• ✓ Create a profile on the Yellowknife Community Foundation scholarship application portal
• ✓ Complete the eligibility quiz on the portal
• ✓ Submit a formal application for the student award

About this award

You can receive a $1,000 award. This is a scholarship, not a loan, so you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a dedicated student in the Northwest Territories pursuing a career in nursing or social work. You must apply through the portal between April 2 and May 31 (Mountain Time). You will likely hear back by mid-to-late July when the Yellowknife Community Foundation distributes the funding. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Yellowknife Community Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Yellowknife Community Foundation 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 Yellowknife Community Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a resident of the Northwest Territories for at least the last 2 consecutive years. You must be pursuing a second or subsequent year of post-secondary studies in the fields of social work or nursing. First priority will be given to applicants of Indigenous ancestry who have lived in the Northwest Territories for at least one half of their lives; second priority will be given to other residents of the Northwest Territories who have lived in the Northwest Territories for at least one half of their lives.

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 post-secondary students
• ✓ Resident of Northwest Territories
• ✓ Studying social work or nursing

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

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• Field of StudyAvoid giving a generic description of your program. Instead, explain why you chose nursing or social work and how it relates to your life in the Northwest Territories. Mention a specific goal you have for your career.
• StrategyAvoid waiting until the end of May to apply. Instead, create your profile on the Yellowknife Community Foundation portal as soon as it opens on April 2. This gives you time to complete the eligibility quiz without rushing.
• RealismAvoid assuming the priority clauses guarantee an award. Instead, recognize that while Indigenous ancestry and long-term residency are prioritized, the fund only provides one $1,000 award. Focus on making your personal connection to the territory clear.

Questions students ask

Similar awards

• Yellowknife Community FoundationCon Employees’ Benevolent Fund$2,000
• Yellowknife Community FoundationDustin Pidborochynski Memorial Scholarship Fund$1,000
• Yellowknife Community FoundationTrades – Rio Tinto Diavik Community Scholarship Fund$3,100
• Yellowknife Community FoundationPat McMahon Memorial Fund$1,500
• Yellowknife Community FoundationIan Legaree Youth Leadership Fund$2,500
• Yellowknife Community FoundationDavid J. Ramsden Memorial Scholarship Fund$1,500
• Yellowknife Community FoundationEnough Talk, Hurry Up and Do It Already Arts Scholarship Fund$1,000
• Yellowknife Community FoundationJonas Konge Memorial Fund$4,000