Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship

About the Scholarship

The Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship is an award jointly provided by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO. The intent is to recognize outstanding achievement in a leadership role and provide financial support to a graduating public board student trustee to assist with their post-secondary education plans (University, College, or Apprenticeship). Student trustees represent the voice of students in decisions on education, and keep students informed of the changes in education that affect them. They play an important role in the education governance process and are actively working at the local board and provincial levels on a number of initiatives.

This scholarship is based on an outstanding initiative accomplished during the student trustee’s term and how the initiative positively impacted the students in their board. Two scholarships, in the amount of $500 each, will be awarded each school year.

Selection Criteria 

The successful recipient must:

• Be a student trustee who completed a one or two-year term at a public school board and will be continuing their education in a post-secondary/apprenticeship setting in Fall 2025
• Submit a completed scholarship application that highlights a student trustee’s successful leadership initiative that made progress in ensuring the education system better reflects student needs and priorities

All submissions will be reviewed by a committee composed of OSTA-AECO’s Public Board Council executive members and trustees on the OPSBA-OSTA Liaison Committee. Note: Student Trustees from the same board cannot submit an application based on the same leadership initiative.

Key Dates 2024-2025

November 12, 2024 – Initial applications sent to all English public school board student trustees

February 10, 2025 – Application reminder sent to all English public school board student trustees

April 25, 2025 – Application deadline

May 16, 2025 – Selection deadline by the OPSBA-OSTA Liaison Committee

May 21, 2025– Announcement of successful recipient

Application Process

Applicants are asked to explain in a maximum of 350 words their suitability for the Ontario Public Student Trustee Leadership Scholarship. All applications must be accompanied by two letters of reference, one of which must be from a senior executive or member of the local school board. These two letters must be from individuals in two differing roles (i.e. not two trustees). Letters of reference must be on official letterhead and include electronic or manual signatures. Reference letters should be at least one page, and no longer than two pages, with a font size of 11 or 12.

Please send your package in PDF format to OSTA-AECO’s Vice-President Public Alexandra Gauthier at alexandra.gauthier@osta-aeco.org by April 25, 2025. If you are unable to complete this application due to accessibility issues and have specific alternative format requests, please contact Alexandra Gauthier.

Application checklist – Submissions must include the following information:

• Name
• School Board
• Term(s) of Student Trustee
• Contact information – Email and phone number
• Leadership Initiative Overview – 350 words maximum for this entire section:

• • How did your initiative reflect the needs and/or support the students at your board?
  • What were the approximate hours it took you to accomplish this initiative (i.e., conception to implementation)?
  • What makes your initiative unique?
  • How many people did this initiative reach?
  • What is the long-term impact of your project?
• Optional: Attach any media/additional documents related to your initiative

Additional Information (50 words maximum for each question):

• What are your plans for post-secondary education?
• How are you planning to continue to take on leadership opportunities? (i.e., athletics, student government, arts clubs, community involvement, etc.)

Please Note:

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and the Public Board Council of OSTA-AECO are committed to equity and inclusion in the selection of the successful applicant and encourage submissions from student trustees who represent the various dimensions of diversity. Both Associations are also committed to providing a barrier-free and accessible application process. Should you require accommodation, please contact OSTA-AECO’s Vice-President Public Alexandra Gauthier at alexandra.gauthier@osta-aeco.org.