Verna and Stanley Mckay, Sr. Educational Bursary for First Nations Students

What you will need

• ✓ Completed General RRC Polytech Application (login required)
• ✓ Letter from your Band stating that you have been denied funding
• ✓ Short statement (one paragraph) outlining your involvement in the Indigenous community
• ✓ Correct award name entered on the application form

About this award

You can receive $1,200. As a bursary, this money is yours to keep — there is nothing to repay. This is for you if you are an Indigenous student starting your first year of full-time study at RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic) and have been denied funding from your Band. You must apply by January 15. When you apply, ask RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic) how and when you will hear back — whether by email, phone, or through the application portal. Selection is based on your financial need and your involvement in the Indigenous community. Ask RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic) how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic) 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 RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic) whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify, you must be an Indigenous student entering your first year of full-time study at RRC Polytech (Red River College Polytechnic). You must also have been denied Band funding for your post-secondary studies at the College.

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 Manitoba

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

   Write your essay

   Be specific about what you did and what changed because of it. Proofread it twice.

3. 3

   Submit your application

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

Tips for applying

• Community InvolvementAvoid writing a generic list of activities. Instead, tell a specific story about how your work helped other people in the Indigenous community. Describe one concrete project or event you led.
• SupportAvoid submitting a vague note from your community. Instead, ensure your letter from the Band explicitly states that you were denied funding for your studies. Double-check that the letter is signed and dated.
• StrategyAvoid forgetting to specify the award name. Instead, clearly write "Verna and Stanley Mckay, Sr. Educational Bursary for First Nations Students" on your application form. This ensures your file goes to the right committee.
• RealismAvoid assuming this is a guaranteed grant. Instead, remember that only one $1,200 bursary is available annually. Focus your energy on highlighting your unique community contributions to stand out.

Questions students ask

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