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OFNTSC Student Achievement Awards

Get $2,000 for your STEM or STEM-related studies if you are a First Nations student —

Reviewed by G Paul · verified August 21, 2026

$2,000

Total value

Nov 1, 2026

Next deadline

What you will need

Proof of First Nations affiliation
Confirmation of enrollment in a STEM or STEM-related program
For Derrick Kamanga Memorial Award applicants: proof of study in engineering focusing on water and wastewater
For Robert Olivier Memorial Award applicants: proof of study in an engineering specialization (civil, mechanical, or chemical)
For Jay Benedict Memorial Award applicants: proof that you are completing studies in architecture or housing

About this award

You can receive $2,000 from one of ten available awards. This includes seven general Student Achievement Awards and three specific memorial awards. As a scholarship, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a First Nations student pursuing a path in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) or a STEM-related field. You have two application deadlines to meet: August 1 and November 1. No notification timeline is posted publicly — when you apply, ask how and when you will hear back via email, phone, or a portal. Selection criteria aren't published — ask Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation how winners are chosen and roughly how many applicants they typically receive so you can judge your odds. Ask Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation 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 Ontario First Nations Technical Services Corporation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

You must have First Nations affiliation and be enrolled in any level of post-secondary study. Your program of study must be in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) or a STEM-related field. Specific memorial awards have tighter focus: the Derrick Kamanga Memorial Award is for those studying engineering in water and wastewater; the Robert Olivier Memorial Award is for any engineering specialization such as civil, mechanical, or chemical; and the Jay Benedict Memorial Award is for those completing studies in architecture or housing.

This is what the award's own page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm with the provider before you apply.

Studying STEM, engineering, water and wastewater, civil, mechanical, chemical or architecture/housing

How to apply

Read the award's own page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

More details

STEM Focus

Avoid writing a generic essay about wanting to help your community.

Instead, connect your specific field of study—like water treatment or architecture—to a concrete need within your First Nation.

Describe exactly how your degree will solve a local problem.

References

Avoid providing a generic teacher who barely knows you.

Instead, use a community leader or a mentor who can vouch for your reliability and your connection to your home community.

Strategy

Avoid waiting until the final deadline.

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