Lincoln M. Alexander Award

What you will need

• ✓ Nomination submitted via the Ontario Honours and Awards Portal
• ✓ School or community organization's name, phone number, and address
• ✓ Nominee's first name, last name, phone number, and email address
• ✓ Nominator's first name, last name, phone number, and email address
• ✓ Detailed description of the nominee's achievements
• ✓ Minimum of two signed testimonial letters on letterhead from two different individuals (excluding the nominator)

About this award

You can receive a $5,000 cash award. Three young people are chosen annually: two recipients in the Student category and one recipient in the Community category. As a cash award, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you have shown strong leadership in eliminating racial discrimination in your community. The deadline is May 31 of each year. Since the funder does not state exactly when you will be notified, ask the Government of Ontario how and when they notify winners after the May 31 cutoff. An independent selection committee appointed by the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration reviews each nomination and recommends the winners. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Government of Ontario how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Government of Ontario 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 Government of Ontario whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You cannot apply for this award yourself; you must be nominated. To qualify for the Student Award, you must be a grade 12 student at an Ontario high school, a resident of Ontario, and planning to attend a post-secondary institution as a full-time student. Only accredited provincial secondary schools can nominate you for this category. To qualify for the Community Award, you must be a resident of Ontario and between the ages of 16 and 25. Only a community organization or agency that works extensively in the area of race relations can nominate you. You cannot be nominated if you are an elected federal, provincial or municipal politician currently in office, or a public appointee currently in office.

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
• ✓ Resident of Ontario

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 focusing on your grades or general volunteering. Instead, provide a detailed description of specific actions you took to eliminate racial discrimination. Give concrete examples of the impact you had on others.
• ReferencesAvoid providing casual character references. Instead, secure two signed testimonial letters on official letterhead from people who can explain the actual value and impact of your achievements.
• RealismAvoid assuming this is a general academic scholarship. With only three awards given across the whole province, this is highly competitive; focus your energy on proving your unique leadership in race relations.

Questions students ask

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