• Name: (Provide first and last name)
• Address: (Complete mailing address)
• E-mail address: (e-mail for correspondence regarding the scholarship)
• Phone number: (Please provide the best phone number for us to reach you)
• Please indicate the best way for EKO to reach you e.g. by text, email or telephone.
• Current School: Please provide the name of your secondary school, or the post-secondary school in which you are currently enrolled.
• Post-Secondary Institution or Career College: The name of the university, college, Indigenous Institute or career program in which you will enroll in for fall 2025.
• If you have not yet received confirmation of your enrollment, please provide the name of the institution that you expect to attend.
• If you will be continuing a post-secondary program in fall 2025, please note the name of the institution where you are enrolled.
• Name of Program: The program in which you are currently studying or your anticipated area of study/intended major or career training.
• Application Status: Please indicate if your admission is confirmed, pending or if you are currently enrolled and will continue the program in the fall.)
• Name of the EKO member organization where you received services and/or supports.

Note: Applicants need to ask a clinician or program administrator at the centre where you receive or have received services to provide you with a letter confirming that you are or have been a client. Please ask for this letter well in advance. The clinician or administrator you ask will be grateful to have time to prepare the letter. If you are no longer in touch with a clinician at the centre where you received services, please contact the centre main number and ask the receptionist for assistance.

We want to learn about you! Applicants can submit an original essay up to 750 words, OR submit a creative project—a video, short story, visual artwork, music composition, recorded performance—use any medium which best allows you to express yourself.

Your essay or creative work should address one of the following topics:

1. How have you assisted others? This might be a student in your class, as a volunteer at your school or in your community, as a mentor, or as a family member. Be sure to give us a few examples!

2. Tell us about people or events that inspire you. You can share experiences that involve your friends, tell us about a mentor, describe an historical or current event that has made a big impression on you, or a work of art—a book, film, performance, painting or sculpture that is memorable for you. Tell us why these people, events or works of art connect with you, and how you practice or apply lessons learned from these individuals or experiences.

3. Share some examples of what motivates you to enter the program of your choice and how you intend to apply what you learn.

You’re encouraged to provide any other information you think would be helpful for the Selection Committee to make their decision.

Please provide two letters of recommendation, from people who know you well. These can be neighbours, family members, school or community mentors, a teacher, coach, community leader, school administrator.

Strong letters of recommendation help differentiate you from other applicants—think about who knows you well and can speak to your strengths. The letters should discuss your ability and potential, and shed light on your character and personality. They should explain what drives you, and what experiences have contributed to who you are today. The best recommendations include anecdotes and observations that tell us about who you are, and give us a sense the recommender was excited to write about you, and is inspired to help you on your path.

The letters should tell us how long and in what capacity the writer knows you, and explain why you are a strong candidate for the EKO Scholarship.

A few notes:

Be sure to give recommenders at least a week or two to provide you with a thoughtful letter.

You can reach recommenders via email, in person or by phone. For assistance reaching school mentors who you may not be in touch with regularly, please email your school principal, whose email address can be found on the school’s website.

The Selection Committee considers each applicant’s interest in the scholarship, and their educational and personal goals.

All applications will be carefully reviewed and considered by the Selection Committee and the EKO Board of Directors. Applicants will be notified shortly after.

Do you have any questions? Get in touch—we’re here to answer your questions.