FAQs

Do I need to use the award right away?

No. You have up to five years to use this voucher.

May I use the award to pay for books or other costs associated with postsecondary?

No. The voucher must be directly applied to tuition only.

Do I have to use the award in my specialty area?

No. Check out the Student Aid BC website to make sure what schools will accept your tuition voucher, should you win.

Does my overall GPA factor into the decision from the Scholarship Committee?

Probably not. The Scholarship Committee will consider your specialty area subjects only. This is why we ask you to use a highlighter on your transcripts, showing us your specialty area subjects. An exception to this may be if two students have equivalent applications, and we need to have a deciding factor to pick only one of the students. Students' work habits and punctuality may also be considered by the Committee, should a tie breaking factor be needed.

What are my chances of winning?

Your chances vary from year to year, depending on a variety of factors, including:

1. the number of Esquimalt students applying

2. the overall number of students applying in your specialty area

3. the overall quality of applications

4. the overall number of scholarships available

Who is the Scholarship Committee?

The Committee changes from year to year, however, it is usually a panel of teachers from different subject areas. Sometimes administrators participate, as well.

Does my portfolio HAVE to be submitted using Google Sites?

Yes. If you have any technical concerns or questions, please see Mrs. B at lunch, right away. She will get you set up in no time flat. There are many YouTube videos under 10 minutes that can also help you with Google Sites. For example, click here.

I created my digital portfolio but my documents and images aren't showing!!!!!

Since this we are in Googleland, every single piece of your portfolio must have its permissions set properly. That means that you have to go to every image, every Google Doc, every video, etc. and change the permission status. I recommend setting all components to "Public" for the purposes of this application. Should you wish to tighten up your permissions after the Scholarship Committee has assessed your portfolio, that is totally fine.

Are the awards divided evenly amongst the categories?

No. We are mandated to have at least one winner in each category, however if an application does not demonstrate outstanding achievement and it is the only application in its category, then the category will not have a winner for that year. Only portfolios that demonstrate excellence will win this award.

At Esquimalt, we typically have more applicants that clearly demonstrate excellence in the Community Service and Fine Arts categories. More awards are usually given in these categories due to this reason.