An Inclusive Scholarship AND Sustainability Challenge for the Classroom

Scholarships mean navigating discussions about eligibility requirements, grades, transcripts, and post-secondary institutions. Motivating youth to complete scholarship applications happens outside of classroom hours, over and above schoolwork expectations. Even though there’s a potential for a reward, encouraging high schoolers to apply for scholarships can be challenging and overwhelming for both students and teachers.

Ready for some great news? The DFC Here for Tomorrow Scholarship, powered by thinkAG, can double as a career education assignment with a focus on inclusivity and diverse submission options for students.

Open to Canadian students in grades 10-12 (Secondary 4-5 in Quebec), this scholarship aims to inspire youth to recognize the impact they can have on a sustainable future by informing, empowering, and equipping them with the knowledge and skills to think critically about their food choices and career decisions.

Fueled by Agriculture in the Classroom Canada’s (AITC-C) career exploration initiative, thinkAG, the scholarship connects students with the multitude of important professions that exist within the agriculture and food sector, helping them recognize how their interests and skills can be utilized in this evolving industry.

Why should students think agriculture?

Agriculture is much more than farming – it’s the food, fibre, feed, and fuel that we use daily. More than two million Canadians are employed within the agriculture and food industry, helping to bring these items to people and animals worldwide through research, technology, marketing, transportation, primary production, processing, packaging, selling, and more.

“Food is, and always will be, necessary. This means that those who produce food and ensure it’s on the plates of Canadians, and those around the world, will forever be essential workers. Right now, we don’t have enough people to fill food-producing jobs. Agriculture careers are as abundant as they are important. The industry needs dynamic and fresh perspectives as it continually grows in complexity and as the need for safe, affordable food continues to remain on the minds of every person in this world. At AITC-C, we want to help youth understand that people’s career paths are all one-of-a-kind, and that agriculture needs people from all backgrounds, with different skill sets and perspectives, to work in our important industry.” says Shayla Wourms, AITC-C’s thinkAG Manager.

People do not have to be raised on a farm to work in agriculture. The ever-changing and exciting industry is becoming high-tech and full of opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math, Business (STEAM-B), and more!

Inclusivity is Important

The DFC Here for Tomorrow Scholarship is not about looking at grades or transcripts – it focuses on intrinsic reflection and defining sustainability through the lens of students’ original ideas.

To participate, students must submit one of the following: a written essay (1,500 words), a video (three minutes), or a visual arts piece (drawing, painting, design, craft, photography, etc.), answering key questions relating to their interests, agriculture and food careers, and global sustainability.

By keeping the scholarship requirements unrestricted, we can encourage more students to apply using their preferred creative outlet.

Classroom Engagement

This scholarship provides a unique option for teachers to use the application journey as a career-exploration opportunity and meet learning outcomes.

Although submissions are to be completed independently, educators can support students in the scholarship application process by assigning it as a project for course evaluation.

By providing guidance in the classroom, you’ll motivate students to make plans for a sustainable and fulfilling future, providing them with an opportunity to win money to cover costs associated with passion projects or future post-secondary endeavours.

A Foundation of Sustainability

Generously supported by Dairy Farmers of Canada, the DFC Here for Tomorrow Scholarship was developed to inspire Canadian youth to play an active role in contributing to a more sustainable tomorrow by providing students with the opportunity to explore how they can make an impact locally and nationally.

“Dairy farmers have a long history of environmental stewardship and are eager to pass these values on to the next generation as we pursue a goal of net-zero emissions from dairy production by 2050,” says Pierre Lampron, president of Dairy Farmers of Canada. “We hope that this scholarship will embolden students to consider a career in agriculture and become stewards of the land, helping to care for our planet and feed our nation for years to come.”

The scholarship will be open for applications from February 1^st to May 1^st, 2023.

To learn more, visit DFC Here For Tomorrow Scholarship | thinkAG.