Each year, the Northwestel Northern Futures Scholarship Program provides scholarships of $2500.00 each to selected students to assist with their post-secondary studies. Since the program was established, 77 scholarships have been awarded (including the 2008-09 awards), representing a total of $192,500.00 in contributions to outstanding northern students. In addition, Northwestel makes efforts to provide employment for the scholarship recipients during their summer breaks and after graduation. A number of the summer students employed by Northwestel during 2007 and 2008 have been previous scholarship recipients.

How long has the Northern Futures Scholarship Program been in place?

This is the scholarship program's seventh year. It was introduced in 2002 to replace a previous scholarship program.

How many scholarships are awarded each year?

Funding is designated each year to provide ten scholarships. The exact number of scholarships actually awarded may fluctuate slightly from year to year.

Four of the scholarships are available exclusively to Aboriginal students. Generally, these four scholarships are awarded to one student in each of the four regions in Northwestel's operating area - Nunavut, the Northwest Territories, Yukon and northern British Columbia.

Who is eligible to apply?

Students must be residents in Northwestel's operating area, who are pursuing full-time post-secondary studies in one of the following fields: Telecommunications Technology, Computer Science/Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Business Administration/Commerce.

Students are able to apply and receive a Northern Futures Scholarship a maximum of four times. Northwestel employees are not eligible to apply but other members of their families are welcome to do so.

What are students required to do as part of the application process?

The first step for applicants is to complete an on-line application, found on Northwestel's website at www.nwtel.ca.

Students must also submit transcripts of their marks and letters of support. In addition, applicants must submit an essay on a topic chosen by Northwestel. The selected topic changes from year to year.  

Finalists are also interviewed by a panel comprised of Northwestel and community representatives before the scholarships are awarded.

The deadline for applications generally falls in mid-July each year.

How are students selected?

Recipients are chosen based on a variety of factors, which may include their academic achievement, extracurricular and community participation, leadership activities and the relevance of their field of study to Northwestel.