Pat Behe and Stan Bennett First Nations Education Fund

What you will need

• ✓ Completed application form
• ✓ Detailed budget for your year of study
• ✓ Most recent copy of transcripts proving a GPA of 2.8 to 3.3
• ✓ A written note detailing your personal goals
• ✓ A written note detailing your educational goals and plans for First Nations people
• ✓ A written note describing your involvement and interest in cultural activities

About this award

You can receive one of two annual awards of up to $1,500. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a First Nations student from the Nlaka’pamux and/or Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nations who is pursuing post-secondary education and demonstrating financial need. You have two options for deadlines: apply by April 1st to be awarded by the end of June, or apply by October 1st to be awarded by the end of October. If you win, you must claim your award by December 31st of that year. When you apply, ask BC Interior Community Foundation how and when you'll hear back — email, portal, or phone. The BC Interior Community Foundation Student Awards Committee chooses the winners. Selection criteria aren't published — ask BC Interior Community Foundation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask BC Interior 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 BC Interior Community Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must be a First Nations student from the Nlaka’pamux and/or Secwepemc (Shuswap) Nations, regardless of whether you have status or are non-status. You must have completed at least one term in your post-secondary program and have a GPA (Grade Point Average — the average of your final grades) between 2.8 and 3.3. If no one meets this GPA range, students with a higher standing may be considered. You must also show that you have financial need. A preference is given to students in First Nations Education or First Nations Language and Cultural programs, though those in Health Careers or Social Services will also be considered. Additionally, a preference is given to a mature student.

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 British Columbia

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

   Order your transcript1–2 weeks

   Your school's registrar can take a week or two.

3. 3

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• TranscriptsAvoid sending unofficial screenshots of your grades. Instead, provide your most recent official copy of transcripts to prove your GPA is between 2.8 and 3.3.
• StrategyAvoid guessing your costs. Instead, build a detailed budget for your entire year of study to clearly demonstrate your financial need.
• RealismAvoid leaving any part of the form blank. Instead, ensure every section is finished, as BC Interior Community Foundation will not review incomplete applications.

Questions students ask

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