About the Award
What is the Power of Positive Change Award?
The Power of Positive Change Award honours Nova Scotia students in grades Primary to 12, who have demonstrated leadership in promoting safe and positive environments, building social cohesion and cultural diversity in their schools and/or communities.Click here for a detailed description of the criteria for nomination.
Who is eligible for the Award?
Nova Scotia students in grades Primary to 12 are eligible to be nominated for this award.What does the recipient of the Award receive?
The recipient will receive a $2,000 bursary, which must be applied to a post-secondary educational opportunity, and a certificate of merit.What is meant by a post secondary educational opportunity?
A post-secondary educational opportunity may include a university, community or private college, apprenticeship training program, course of study, etc.How many awards are given out to students?
Up to 10 bursaries will be awarded to students annually.When will the bursary and certificate be awarded to the student?
The certificate will be given to the student at a reception in June.The bursary will be held in trust by the Department of Education until the student graduates from senior high school.
How does the student claim the bursary after graduation from senior high school?
Students must graduate from senior high school and provide a photo proof of identity, and proof of acceptance to a post-secondary educational opportunity in order to receive his/her bursary.Upon receiving this information, the Department of Education will issue the student a $2000 bursary in his/her name.
How is a student nominated for this award?
An eligible student must be nominated by someone other than himself/herself and must provide two additional references in order to be considered for this award.The person nominating the student must complete the nomination form, collect the two other reference forms, and send in the complete package by mail or drop-off to the award committee at the Department of Education for review.
Click here for a detailed description of this process and to download the nomination and reference forms.
Who can nominate a student?
Anyone other than the candidate or the candidate's references may nominate a student.Who can be a reference?
One reference must be a:- teacher,
- school counsellor,
- or administrator.
- friend,
- family member,
- employer,
- member of an outside agency or community organization,
- or someone who has been personally touched by the efforts of the candidate to promote positive change.
What is the deadline to nominate a student?
The deadline for nominations is April 22, 2011.When will the student find out if she/he has been awarded the bursary?
The student will be notified in writing by June 1, 2011.How will the recipients of the award be chosen?
Recipients will be chosen at the discretion of an advisory committee of educational partners, consisting of representatives from:- The Premier's Office
- Department of Education
- Nova Scotia Teachers Union
- Nova Scotia School Boards Association
- Nova Scotia Federation of Home and School Associations
- La Fédération des parents acadiens de la Nouvelle-Écosse
Can a group of students be nominated for this award?
This award is given to students on an individual basis.What if the student does not complete senior high school?
Students must graduate from senior high school and provide a photo proof of identity, and proof of acceptance to a post-secondary educational opportunity in order to receive his/her bursary.What if a student does not attend a post-secondary educational opportunity immediately following graduation?
The award may be deferred for up to two years following graduation from senior high school.What if a student is home-schooled?
A student being home-schooled is eligible to receive this award if she/he is registered with the Nova Scotia Department of Education. In this case the academic reference may be a parent or another adult who is providing the student with academic support.Can a student be nominated or receive the award more than once?
A student who is nominated but does not receive the award can be nominated again for the same activity/project. A student who is nominated and does receive the bursary may be nominated again but not for the same initiative for which the award was originally given.Will the student's personal information be made public?
There is a consent clause on the nomination form which must be signed by a parent/guardian regarding the release of some personal information.This clause states that the successful recipient of the award will have his/her name, school, grade, details from the submission describing the student's positive contributions, and photograph, used in public announcements, in newspapers, and on the Nova Scotia government web site, when the award recipients are announced.
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