Awards

Supporting Indigenous Health Science Students

Since 2014, the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health has distributed hundreds of  thousands of dollars in awards to Indigenous students at UBC training to become health care practitioners and health researchers.

The Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon awards were the first awards in UBC history to allow students from both the Vancouver and Okanagan campus to apply to the same award funding pool. These awards continue to be an important source of funding for Indigenous students at our Okanagan campus.

Eligibility

Self-identified Indigenous students who fall into one, or more, of the following categories are eligible to apply to our awards:

  1. Are enrolled in a health program at UBC Vancouver or Okanagan
  2. Are pursuing graduate level research that will making a meaning contribution to Indigenous health
  3. Are not currently enrolled in a health program, but are interested in applying to a health program in the future
  4. Are entering a UBC program directly from high school, or who are returning to their studies after a break

Indigenous students at the Okanagan campus are only eligible to apply to the Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon awards.

Health Science Awards

We currently have 6 award competitions available to Indigenous students enrolled in health programs with variable award amounts available each year, including:

  • Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Award in Health Sciences*
  • First Nations Health Sciences Scholarship
  • Aboriginal Award in Medicine
  • Harold F. and Anne Bedner Award in Health Sciences
  • Cindy Jordan-Orlaw Memorial Award in Health Sciences
  • Vancouver Island Health Authority Award

To apply, fill out the online application form and select all of the awards you wish to apply to. There is only one application form that is used for all currently open awards, including the Graduate Research and Future Health Professional awards. Upload your additional documentation into the application form and ensure your reference letter is emailed to ceih.awards@ubc.ca by the posted deadline.

Additional Documentation Required

  1. Statement of Intent
    A letter describing your educational goals, your vision for the future, and your interest in improving the health of Aboriginal people. Please include any relevant achievements or awards. Letters are not to exceeded 1000 words in length.
  2. Letters of Recommendation
    This award requires letters of recommendation from an employer, professor, or community member who can speak to your academic achievement and potential to make a valuable contribution to the health of Aboriginal people. Undergraduate students are only required to submit one reference letter. Graduate students are required to submit two reference letters.
  3. Transcript
    If your previous year of study was not at UBC an official transcript from your previous institution must be submitted. Continuing UBC students do not need to submit transcripts.
  4. Financial Need Statement
    A statement about your financial situation; please include any exceptional circumstances that you believe the adjudication committee should be aware of. Please include information about any student loan debt, line of credit, etc. Statement is not to exceed 500 words in length. This statement is only used in the adjudication of the Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Awards.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Undergraduate or graduate student of First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit, or Métis ancestry
  • Pursuing a degree in any area of health science
  • Enrolled as a full-time student at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan in the 2018W Session

Evaluation Rubric

Academic Excellence (scored out of 10)

  • Transcripts should demonstrate academic excellence and show growth in academic achievement

Letters of Reference (scored out of 10)

  • Academic references should reflect the student’s academic achievement and promise as a future healthcare practitioner
    (Note: Graduate students are required to submit two letters of reference; undergraduate students are required to submit only one letter. The total score for this category is 10 points.)

Statement of Intent (scored out of 30)

  • Demonstrate how your lived experience have prepared you to provide culturally safe care
  • Show personal conviction and preparation to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities as a health care practitioner or researcher
  • Consideration given to personal qualities, character, interest and promise in community development and interdisciplinary health practice
  • Reflect aspects of personal resilience, and a clear sense of direction in educational goals
  • Composition of letter – free of grammatical and spelling errors

Total possible score is out of 50

Financial need may be considered in the case of multiple outstanding applicants.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: CLOSED

Graduate Research Award

The Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Graduate Health Research award is for Indigenous students who are pursuing health-related research in either academic or community settings. This award is open to full-time graduate students from both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan and is made on the recommendation of the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health in consultation with the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral studies or the College of Graduate Studies.

To apply, fill out the online application form and select all of the awards you wish to apply to. There is only one application form that is used for all currently open awards, including the Health Science and Future Health Professional awards. Upload your additional documentation into the application form and ensure your reference letter is emailed to ceih.awards@ubc.ca by the posted deadline.

Additional Documentation Required

  1. Statement of Intent
    A letter describing your educational goals, your vision for the future, and your interest in improving the health of Aboriginal people. Please include any relevant achievements or awards. Letters are not to exceeded 1000 words in length.
  2. Letters of Recommendation
    Two signed letters of recommendation from an employer, professor, research advisor, or community member who can speak to your academic achievement and potential to make a valuable contribution to health services and research. One of your recommendation letters must be from your current research supervisor.
  3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    A document detailing all of your past work experience and education, including public presentations, academic writing and professional development.
  4. Transcript
    If your previous year of study was not at UBC an official transcript from your previous institution must be submitted. Continuing UBC students do not need to submit transcripts.
  5. Financial Need Statement
    A statement about your financial situation; please include any exceptional circumstances that you believe the adjudication committee should be aware of. Please include information about any student loan debt, line of credit, etc. Statement is not to exceed 500 words in length.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Graduate student of First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit, or Métis ancestry
  • Pursuing health-related research in either academic or community settings in BC
  • Enrolled as a full-time student at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan in the 2018W Session

Evaluation Rubric

Academic Excellence (scored out of 10)

  • Transcripts should demonstrate academic excellence and show growth in academic achievement
  • Scholarships and awards currently held or previously awarded
  • Strength of CV

Letters of Reference (scored out of 10)

  • Academic references should reflect the student’s academic achievement and promise as a future healthcare practitioner
  • Applicants are required to submit two letters of reference

Statement of Intent (scored out of 20)

  • Demonstrate how your lived experience have prepared you to provide culturally safe care
  • Show personal conviction and preparation to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities as a health care practitioner or researcher
  • Consideration given to personal qualities, character, interest and promise in community development and interdisciplinary health practice
  • Reflect aspects of personal resilience, and a clear sense of direction in educational goals
  • Composition of letter – free of grammatical and spelling errors

Research Potential (scored out of 10)

  • Relevance of work experience and academic training to the field of proposed research
  • Research experience and achievements relative to the expectations of someone withthe candidate’s academic experience
  • Potential for the research to contribute to the improvement of the health of Indigenouspeople or health services and research in BC

Total possible score is out of 50

Financial need may be considered in the case of multiple outstanding applicants.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: CLOSED

 

Future Health Professionals Award

The Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Entrance Award for Community Health Scholars is for Aboriginal students who have not yet pursued formal post-secondary education, or who are returning to post secondary education after a gap. This award is open to full-time students from both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan in undergraduate or graduate programs and are made
on the recommendation of the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health.

To apply, fill out the online application form and select all of the awards you wish to apply to. There is only one application form that is used for all currently open awards, including the Health Science and Future Health Professional awards. Upload your additional documentation into the application form by the posted deadline.

Additional Documentation Required

  1. Statement of Intent
    A letter describing your educational goals, your vision for the future, your dedication to improving the health of Aboriginal people, and why you are interested in pursuing future training in a heath profession. Please include any relevant achievements or awards and extracurricular activities participated in. Letters are not to exceeded 1000 words in length..
  2. Transcript
    If your previous year of study was not at UBC an official transcript from your previous institution must be submitted. Continuing UBC students do not need to submit transcripts.
  3. Financial Need Statement
    A statement about your financial situation; please include any exceptional circumstances that you believe the adjudication committee should be aware of. Please include information about any student loan debt, line of credit, etc. Statement is not to exceed 500 words in length.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Undergraduate student of First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit, or Métis ancestry
  • Interested in pursuing future training in a health profession
  • Enrolled as a full-time student at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan in the 2018W Session

Evaluation Rubric

Academic Excellence (scored out of 10)

  • Transcripts should demonstrate academic excellence and show growth in academic achievement

Statement of Intent (scored out of 40)

  • Demonstrate how your lived experience have prepared you to provide culturally safe care
  • Show personal conviction and preparation to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities as a health care practitioner or researcher
  • Consideration given to personal qualities, character, interest and promise in community development and interdisciplinary health practice
  • Reflect aspects of personal resilience, and a clear sense of direction in educational goals
  • Composition of letter – free of grammatical and spelling errors
  • Include meaningful involvement and achievement in volunteer activities, work, or research experience, participation in student clubs and associations, community & cultural activities, involvement in charity or not-for-profit organizations, foreign travel or study, etc.
  • Extracurricular activities do not have to be directly related to healthcare, but should be positive examples of student commitment and achievement

Total possible score is out of 50

Financial need may be considered in the case of multiple outstanding applicants.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: CLOSED

 

Entrance Award for Community Health Scholars

The Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Entrance Award for Community Health Scholars is for Aboriginal students who have not yet pursued formal post-secondary education, or who are returning to post secondary education after a gap. This award is open to full-time students from both UBC Vancouver and UBC Okanagan in undergraduate or graduate programs and are made
on the recommendation of the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health.

Apply, fill out the online application form and select all of the awards you wish to apply to. There is only one application form that is used for all currently open awards, including the Health Science and Future Health Professional awards. Upload your additional documentation into the application form by the posted deadline.

Additional Documentation Required

  1. Statement of Intent
    A letter describing your educational goals, your vision for the future, your dedication to improving the health of Aboriginal people, and why you are interested in pursuing future training in a heath profession. Please include any relevant achievements or awards and extracurricular activities participated in. Letters are not to exceeded 1000 words in length..
  2. Transcript
    If your previous year of study was not at UBC an official transcript from your previous institution must be submitted. Continuing UBC students do not need to submit transcripts.
  3. Financial Need Statement
    A statement about your financial situation; please include any exceptional circumstances that you believe the adjudication committee should be aware of. Please include information about any student loan debt, line of credit, etc. Statement is not to exceed 500 words in length.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Undergraduate or graduate student of First Nations (Status or Non-Status), Inuit, or Métis ancestry
  • Beginning post-secondary education or are returning to post-secondary education after a significant gap (typically a minimum of 2 years)
  • Enrolled as a full-time student at UBC Vancouver or UBC Okanagan in the 2018WSession

Evaluation Rubric

Academic Excellence (scored out of 10)

  • Transcripts should demonstrate academic excellence and show growth in academic achievement
  • “Growth in academic achievement” will differ between students entering directly from high school, those entering as mature students, or students entering a graduate program; each will be adjudicated accordingly

Statement of Intent (scored out of 40)

  • Demonstrate how your lived experience have prepared you to provide culturally safe care
  • Show personal conviction and preparation to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous peoples and communities as a health care practitioner or researcher
  • Consideration given to personal qualities, character, interest and promise in community development and interdisciplinary health practice
  • Reflect aspects of personal resilience, and a clear sense of direction in educational goals
  • Composition of letter – free of grammatical and spelling errors
  • Include meaningful involvement and achievement in volunteer activities, work, or research experience, participation in student clubs and associations, community & cultural activities, involvement in charity or not-for-profit organizations, foreign travel or study, etc.
  • Extracurricular activities do not have to be directly related to healthcare, but should be positive examples of student commitment and achievement

Total possible score is out of 50

APPLICATION DEADLINE: CLOSED

Awards 101

Everything you Need to Know About Free Money for Post – Secondary
Education

In this interactive session, Savanah Knockwood, the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health’s Awards Administrator, demystifies the process of applying for awards and shares advice on how to create the strongest applications possible that have the best chance of being funded. Savanah created the awards process and sits with awards committees as they make funding decisions and has the inside scoop on what makes applications stand out.

Topics covered include:

  • How universities define the difference between awards, bursaries, scholarships and how to
    find award opportunities
  • About reference letters; both asking for a reference and being a reference for a student
  • Secrets to what adjudication committees look for in successfully funded applications and
    how to write personal essays
  • Honouring your Indigenous heritage while navigating systems and processes that were not
    designed with an Indigenous worldview in mind

 

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Who is eligible to apply to these awards?
Self-Identified Indigenous students registered in degree programs at the UBC Vancouver and
Okanagan campuses are eligible to apply for these awards. Please note, Okanagan students are only eligible to apply to the Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Awards at this time.

2. Do I need to be registered in a health program to apply to these awards?

No! If you are a student and are interested in applying to a health program in the future but are not currently enrolled in one, you are eligible to apply to the Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Future Health Professionals Award. This award is only open to students who are not currently registered in a health program.If you are a new student at UBC you can apply to the Lindsay and Elizabeth Gordon Entrance Award. This award is open to students entering any program (both health related and non-health related) provided you can demonstrate your interest in working in health in the future.All other awards require applicants to be registered in a health program.
3. Are these awards part of the general UBC awards found on the students.ubc.ca page?
No, these awards are separate from the UBC awards and have a separate timeline, application process, and adjudication period. Applying to awards administered through the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health does not submit your application to the UBC general awards process and vice versa.
4. Do I have to submit “proof of ancestry” to apply to these awards?
No, we do not require students to submit proof of Aboriginal ancestry to apply to our awards. Students are asked to self-identify as Aboriginal in the application form as part of the application process.
5. How are you defining Indigenous/Aboriginal?
UBC uses the term "Aboriginal" in the spirit of its use in section 35(2) of the Canadian Constitution, to refer inclusively to members of First Nations, status and non-status, treaty and non-treaty Indians, Métis, and Inuit peoples in Canada, recognizing in doing so that many people prefer the terms that are specific and traditional to their communities.
6. I have questions about the additional documents required to apply to these awards. Where can I find further information?
The UBC Learning Circle hosted the Indigenous Student Programs Coordinator for a session about creating the strongest possible awards application. The session is available on The Learning Circle.
7. Will you email me to confirm you have received my application?"
No, when you submit your application via the online form you will receive a confirmation saying your submission has been completed. We will only email you if there was a problem with your application, or if you were missing documentation.
8. Can I save and restart the survey?
No, when you submit your application via the online form you will receive a confirmation
saying your submission has been completed. We will only email you if there was a problem with your application, or if you were missing documentation.
9. Will you email me to confirm you have received my application?"
No, when you submit your application via the online form you will receive a confirmation saying your submission has been completed. We will only email you if there was a problem with your application, or if you were missing documentation.
10. Does my program qualify as a “health” program?
We have created a health programs search – if your program is listed as part of the search it is considered a health program for the purposes of our awards. If your program is not listed and you have questions about which awards you are eligible to apply to please email ceih.awards@ubc.ca for more information.

11. I am a graduate student currently receiving the Aboriginal Graduate Fellowship. If I receive one of these awards will I forfeit my fellowship?

No, receiving an internal UBC award will not conflict with your fellowship funding. If you have specific questions regarding potential funding conflicts, please contact the Faculty of Graduate

12. What is the amount of each award?

Funding amounts are variable and change yearly, so it is impossible to give a static number. In the past we have granted awards up to $10,000 from award pools as large as $60,000.

13. How many reference letters am I required to submit?

Reference letters are only required for applications to awards in the Health Science Awards pool and the Graduate Research Award. Undergraduate students are required to submit 1 reference letter, while Graduate students are required to submit 2 reference letters. For graduate student applicants who apply to both the Health Science awards and the Graduate Research award you only need to submit 2 reference letters total – the same letters of reference will be used for both adjudication pools. Please note only the first letter(s) of recommendation received by our office will be reviewed by the adjudication committee in the event that more reference letters than required are received. Reference letters are not required for the Future Health Professionals and Entrance Awards.
14. How do I submit my letter(s) of reference? 

Reference letters must be emailed directly to the Centre for Excellence in Indigenous Health from the reference to ceih.awards@ubc.ca. Reference letters received directly from the applicant are ineligible for adjudication and will not be reviewed.

I have a question that isn’t answered here, who do I contact? If you have a question that isn’t answered here please email your inquiry to: ceih.awards@ubc.ca