Stars Awards

• Who can apply?

  High school students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are invited to apply. To be eligible, you must currently live in Civida housing or your family must receive rent assistance from Civida.

• When are applications due?

  Tuesday, July 4, 2023, by midnight.

• How do I apply?

  Complete the online application form. Note that you can save your in-progress application and come back to complete it later, but all documents must be uploaded by the application due date.

• Questions?

  Please contact [email protected].

The Academic Award recognizes students’ academic achievement.

Please note: students who complete the Academic Award section of the online application form will also be automatically entered for the Academic Excellence Award (top GPA in Grade 10, 11 and 12). Grade 12 applicants may answer three additional questions to be entered for the Scott Russill Scholarship.

• Who's eligible for the Academic Award?

  High school students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are invited to apply. To be eligible, you must currently live in Civida housing or your family must receive rent assistance from Civida.

  To qualify for this award, you need a minimum GPA of 65% based on an average of five specific courses in 2022-2023. Awards are granted as follows:

  • 65% and higher – $200 Academic Award.
  • Top GPA in each of Grades 10, 11 and 12 – $400 Academic Excellence award (Note: recipient does not also receive $200 award).
  • Top GPA in Grade 12 – $5,000 Scott Russill Scholarship to their post-secondary institution of choice.
• How do I apply for the Academic Award?

  Applications are submitted online, and are due by Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at midnight.

  1. School Transcript: Enter your course grades and upload your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript) or latest report card if you do not have your final transcript from this school year, 2022-2023.
     • Please download your “Detailed Academic Report” (final transcript) from the Government of Alberta MyPass website or your school website.
     • Ask your school office if you need help getting your detailed academic report (final transcript).
  2. Grade 12 students only:
     • The Grade 12 applicant with the highest GPA may be eligible to receive a $5,000 scholarship to the post-secondary institution of their choice.
     • If you just finished Grade 12 and are planning to pursue post-secondary education in Fall 2023 or Winter 2024, you will be asked to upload a copy of your acceptance letter from the post-secondary institution.

The Academic Improvement Award recognizes students who have worked to improve their grades between last year and this year.

• Who's eligible for the Academic Improvement Award?

  High school students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are invited to apply. To be eligible, you must currently live in Civida housing or your family must receive a rent supplement from Civida. 

  Awards are granted as follows: 

  • $400 per award
  • Limit of 5 awards per grade
• How do I apply for the Academic Improvement Award?

  Applications are submitted online, and are due by Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at midnight.

  1. Short Answer Questions: Respond to the following questions in the online application form:
     • Why do you think your grades improved between last school year and this school year? (up to 300 words)
     • What advice would you give to younger students about how to improve their academic grades? (up to 300 words)

  3. Letter of Support: Upload a letter of support from a community leader or teacher (note this person cannot be a relative).
     • The letter must include the information outlined in the Academic Improvement Award: Letter of Support Guidelines.
     • Download and send these guidelines to the person writing your Letter of Support. Make sure you give them at least two weeks to write the letter.
  4. School Transcript – Last Year: Enter your course grades and upload your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript) from last school year, 2021-2022.
     
  5. School Transcript – This Year: Enter your course grades and upload your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript) or latest report card from this school year, 2022-2023.
     • Please download your “Detailed Academic Report” (final transcript) from the Government of Alberta MyPass website or your school website.
     • Ask your school office if you need help getting your detailed academic report (final transcript). If your transcripts are not out yet you may also use your latest report card.
• How is my application scored?

  A review committee will look at your application, including your answers to the short answer questions and your Letter of Support.

  These are the criteria the review committee will use:

  Criteria	Scale – 1 (low)	Scale – 5 (high)
  Student has insight into why and how people can improve academic grades	Little insight into why they improved; vague advice provided for other students	Significant insight into why they improved; specific advice provided for other students
  Student uses new strategies for academic improvement	No new academic strategies described	Several new academic strategies referenced and described in detail
  Student demonstrates academic improvement between this year and last year	Small increase in the student’s grade point average	Significant increase in the student’s grade point average; improvement made despite significant extenuating circumstances

The Community Impact Award recognizes students’ commitment to the community.

• Who's eligible for the Community Impact Award?

  High school students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are invited to apply. To be eligible, you must currently live in Civida housing or your family must receive a rent supplement from Civida.

  Awards are granted as follows:

  • $400 per award
  • Limit of 3 awards per grade
• How do I apply for the Community Impact Award?

  Applications are submitted online, and are due by Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at midnight.

  1. Short Answer Questions: Respond to the following questions in the online application form:
     • Tell us how you have made a positive impact in your community. What was the situation, and what did you do to make things better? (up to 300 words)
     • Why was this important to you, personally? (up to 300 words)
     • How is the community different as a result of your efforts? How do you know you made a difference? (up to 300 words)
     • Why do you think young people should try to make positive changes in their community? (up to 300 words)

  2. Letter of Support: Upload a letter of support from a community leader or teacher (note this person cannot be a relative).

  • • The letter must include the information outlined in the Community Impact Award: Letter of Support Guidelines.
    • Download and send these guidelines to the person writing your Letter of Support. Make sure you give them at least two weeks to write the letter.

  3. School Transcript: Upload your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript) or latest report card so that we can verify your school enrollment. Your grades are not used as part of our decision-making for this award.

  • • Please download your “Detailed Academic Report” (final transcript) from the Government of Alberta MyPass website or your school website.
    • Ask your school office if you need help getting your detailed academic report (final transcript).
• How is my application scored?

  A review committee will look at your application, including your answers to the short answer questions and your Letter of Support.

  These are the criteria the review committee will use:

  Criteria	Scale – 1 (low)	Scale – 5 (high)
  Student has insight into why people should contribute to their communities	Little insight into why they decided to take action; not clear why young people should make positive changes in the community	Significant insight into why they decided to take action; specific reasons why young people should make positive changes in the community
  Student made a significant impact in their community	Unclear what the student did and why; little evidence of community impact	Clear explanation of what the student did and why; strong evidence of community impact; student took action despite significant extenuating circumstances

The Creative Arts Award recognizes students who are involved in the creative arts including visual, written, performing and all other creative arts.

• Who’s eligible for the Creative Arts Award?

  High school students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are invited to apply. To be eligible, you must currently live in Civida housing or your family must receive a rent supplement from Civida.

  Awards are granted as follows:

  • $400 per award
  • Limit of 1 award per grade
• How do I apply for the Creative Arts Award?

  Applications are submitted online, and are due by Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at midnight.

  1. Short Answer Questions: Respond to the following questions in the online application form:
     • Tell us about your favourite art and why you engage in it? (up to 300 words)
     • Why is art important to you? (up to 300 words)
     • Why are arts important to the community? (up to 300 words)
     • What advice would you give to younger students to help them practice and improve their creative art?
  2. Letter of Support: Upload a letter of support from a community leader, teacher or mentor (note this person cannot be a relative).
     • The letter must include the information outlined in the Creative Arts Award: Letter of Support Guidelines.
     • Download and send these guidelines to the person writing your Letter of Support. Make sure you give them at least two weeks to write the letter.
  3. Portfolio Pieces: Upload 2 files that demonstrate your creative art, this can be a picture or video file, a .pdf or word document.
  4. School Transcript: Upload your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript) or latest report card so that we can verify your school enrollment. Your grades are not used as part of our decision-making for this award.
     • Please download your “Detailed Academic Report” (final transcript) from the Government of Alberta MyPass website or your school website.
     • Ask your school office if you need help getting your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript).
     • If your Detailed Academic Report is not ready you may use your latest report card.
• How is my application scored?

  A review committee will look at your application, including your answers to the short answer questions and your Letter of Support.

  These are the criteria the review committee will use:

  Criteria	Scale – 1 (low)	Scale – 5 (high)
  Student has insight into why arts are important to them personally and the difference arts make in their life.	Little insight into why arts are personally valuable; vague description about art in their life.	Significant insight into why arts make a difference in their life; detailed description about their art.
  Student has insight into why arts are important in the community.	Little insight into why arts are important in the community; no effort to explain arts and community.	Significant insight into why arts are important in the community and a clear effort is made to explain this.
  Student demonstrates thoughtfulness in response to giving advice and gives more than one piece of advice.	Generic and unthoughtful advice is given.	Personalized and thoughtful advice is given

   

The Sports Performance Award recognizes students who are involved in athletic performance.

• Who’s eligible for the Sports Performance Award?

  High school students in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are invited to apply. To be eligible, you must currently live in Civida housing or your family must receive a rent supplement from Civida.

  Awards are granted as follows:

  • $400 per award
  • Limit of 1 award per grade
• How do I apply for the Sports Performance Award?

  Applications are submitted online, and are due by Tuesday, July 4, 2023 at midnight.

  1. Short Answer Questions: Respond to the following questions in the online application form:
     • Tell us about your favourite sport and why that sport is personally important to you.
     • Why are sports important to the community?
     • What advice would you give to younger students to improve their skill in their sport?
  2. Letter of Support: Upload a letter of support from a community leader, teacher or coach (note this person cannot be a relative).
     • The letter must include the information outlined in the Sports Performance Award: Letter of Support Guidelines.
     • Download and send these guidelines to the person writing your Letter of Support. Make sure you give them at least two weeks to write the letter.
  3. School Transcript: Upload your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript) or latest report card so that we can verify your school enrollment. Your grades are not used as part of our decision-making for this award.
     • Please download your “Detailed Academic Report” (final transcript) from the Government of Alberta MyPass website or your school website.
     • Ask your school office if you need help getting your Detailed Academic Report (final transcript).
     • If your Detailed Academic Report is not ready you may use your latest report card.
• How is my application scored?

  A review committee will look at your application, including your answers to the short answer questions and your Letter of Support.

  These are the criteria the review committee will use:

  Criteria	Scale – 1 (low)	Scale – 5 (high)
  Student has insight into why sports are important to them personally.	Little insight into why sports are personally valuable; vague description about art in their life.	Significant insight into why sports make a difference in their life; detailed description about their art.
  Student has insight into why sports are important in the community.	Little insight into why sports are important in the community; no effort to explain arts and community.	Significant insight into why sports are important in the community and a clear effort is made to explain this.
  Student demonstrates thoughtfulness in response to giving advice and gives more than one piece of advice.	Generic and unthoughtful advice is given.	Personalized and thoughtful advice is given